The 5R‘s of Research

The days of the objective, independent research are over. It is increasingly acknowledged that it is impossible for a researcher to be independent. Our prior experiences, our understanding of the world, our social environment. It all influences us, our focus and our interpretation. We are entangled with what we research, what we observe, what we analyze. This is well accepted in second order science. We are not independent of our object / subject of research. In sustainability science this let’s us intervene – in whatever topic we choose – in a way that has a normative nature. 

What comes with this insight is a responsibility. Which leads to the soon well-known 5R‘s: Researchers are responsible for the research‘s results and residues.