Redefinition

Redefinition involves altering the way a concept is employed by different authors in order to achieve a common meaning. This technique is powerful when authors appear to be disagreeing because they are using the same concept in different ways. When one redefines a concept, and then restates the authors’ insights in terms of the redefined concept, the apparent conflict vanishes. In other cases redefinition resolves only some of the conflict between insights, but by clarifying the nature of this conflict sets the stage for the use of other techniques. At times, redefinition involves clarifying distinct meanings of a concept. The redefined concept or concepts serves as the common ground.

Bergmann, Matthias , Thomas Jahn, Tobias Knobloch, Wolfgang Krohn, Christian Pohl, Engelbert Schramm (2012) Methods for Transdisciplinary Research: A Primer for Practice. Berlin: Campus list four methods for addressing concepts. The first method involves first identifying the key concepts (related to the question and disciplinary methods), then the definitions each attaches, then developing a shared definition (which is reviewed recursively). The second method involves defining one or more new concepts. These two methods accord with what is termed redefinition here, The third method involves breaking concepts into their constituent parts. The latter are then reconstituted for the interests of the team. This method of breaking complex into basic concepts was addressed in the related discussion of Interdisciplinary Communication. The fourth method involves agreeing on quality criteria for outcome concepts. (They note later that social scientists often worry about how concepts are understood culturally.)