An embedded agency perspective on exploring context, mechanisms of change, and impact of real-world labs

A key motivation of transdisciplinary research in real-world labs is the generation of socially robust transformation knowledge. This type of research aims to contribute to societal transformation processes by conducting experiments in real-world contexts, integrating different disciplinary and practice perspectives in a solution-oriented and reflexive research process. We propose an embedded agency perspective (EAP) to analyze structure-agency dynamics in real-world labs. Studying agency at different levels (individual-collective) and embedded in socio-spatial contexts (including physical, institutional, and cultural-symbolic dimensions) helps us to explore mechanisms of change and impacts of real-world labs. Grounding real-world lab (RWL) research in a structuration-theoretical understanding of transformation allows us to systematically trace the more subtle change mechanisms observed in real-world labs. For example, changes in actors’ attitudes and behaviors, the emergence of new narratives and identities, network- and capacity-building, and their potential impact on deep-structural change. Analysis of structure-agency dynamics in RWLs reveals potential for identifying relevant processes and strategies for challenging, altering, or replacing established structures and patterns of “how things are normally done,” while systematically considering the role of contexts in which experiments take place. We discuss methodological implications for applying an EAP and illustrate the potential for designing and evaluating RWL projects with an empirical example from the German state of Lower Saxony.