Reading between the lines: a systematic approach to identifying underlying concepts in scientific literature – The case of interfaces between disciplinary lenses and real-world laboratory research

Abstract As settings for knowledge generation through experimentation and testing of ‘solutions’ to sustainability challenges in collaboration with various actors, real-world laboratories (RwLs) and related lab-based approaches have emerged across diverse fields of research. Although they already integrate knowledge from different disciplines and are receiving increasing attention in various academic disciplines and beyond, the interface dynamics that shape their work have yet to be explored. This presents two interconnected types of challenges that our paper seeks to address. First, conceptual and framing challenges arise concerning the positioning of real-world labs within this broader research landscape of experimental and participatory lab approaches, including questions of terminology and the relationship between more traditional disciplinary research and RwL research. Second, methodological challenges arise for conducting a literature review on this issue, including identifying rather underlying disciplinary contributions, recognizing novel approaches beyond established categories and defining suitable criteria for literature selection and synthesis. We argue that a combination of three approaches—bibliometric analysis, subject assignment and cluster analysis—can address both sets of challenges. By doing so, this paper pursues a dual objective: to provide a structured overview of the research landscape, thereby enhancing the understanding of interfaces and fostering learning processes between disciplinary lenses and RwL; and to reflect critically on the methodological implications of researching such a cross-cutting field. Results highlight potentials and pitfalls of identifying, mapping and analyzing underlying concepts and interfaces in scientific literature by “reading between the lines,” providing a reference point for addressing similar challenges in other research domains.