Position Paper 2023

Transdisciplinary Research for Youth Justice – Position Paper 2023 9 Figure 1 below adapted from Menken and Keestra (2016) indicates how different disciplines may offer different explanations for causes and solutions, and which may have been reached through research conducted using a range of methodologies, paradigms and theory. Figure 1 Examples of causes of youth offending from different perspectives We propose that a complex systems-based approach that can appropriately integrate the knowledge and understanding we have from across a range of disciplines such as sociology, criminology, psychology and education can lead to new and innovative solutions at a range of intervention points in the life cycle of the young person. This should include a closer and critical look at the wider cultural and policy landscape within which we operate. Education provides an ideal site for interventions as children have to be in education or training until the age of 19 and a touch-point for many services such as social workers, healthcare workers and teachers. Adopting a transdisciplinary approach to bring together the learnings from a range of relevant disciplines, can transcend tensions and reach new and innovative solutions and recommendations to the problem.