Abstract

Transdisciplinary research has gained momentum in the field of environmental sustainability. Research highlights that high degrees of participation in research can help identify integrated and acceptable solutions on the ground. However, research has also shown that high degrees of participation do not automatically result in positive outcomes. This study assumes that perceptions of participation diverge in different (cultural) settings. While conceptual frameworks provide good guidance on how project managers can design participatory processes, stakeholders involved in such processes may perceive their involvement differently. This article tests this assumption in transdisciplinary research carried out at two pilot sites in Latin America where the aim was for local stakeholders and experts to co-design wastewater management solutions. Based on a comprehensive stakeholder analysis, our research focuses on how project manager’s original intention of high participation is perceived by stakeholders involved across the phases of the research process from project design, via implementation, to its evaluation. Analyses are based on written project documents and a survey amongst participants on the perceived degree of participation. Results show a discrepancy between the intended participation and the perceived participation. Furthermore, we find that perceptions of transdisciplinarity vary across the phases of the research process. These results help in understanding potential differences between intended and perceived participation, supporting the effective design of transdisciplinary research in the future.