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We are increasingly realizing that, as a result of technological developments and globalization, problems are becoming so complex that they can only be solved through cooperation between scientists from different disciplines. Healthcare, climate change, food security, globalization, and quality of life are just a few examples of issues that require scientists to work across disciplines. In many cases, extra-academic stakeholders must be involved in order to arrive at robust solutions. Young academics are being called on to step beyond the boundaries of traditional disciplines to contribute to addressing fundamental, often societal problems. As a result of these developments, an interdisciplinary approach is becoming increasingly necessary and popular in higher education. Students need to learn more about how to integrate and apply knowledge, methods, and skills from different fields. The crucial step of integration within interdisciplinary research is treated extensively in this textbook, which contains a comprehensive 'interdisciplinary integration toolbox'. In addition, students must learn to collaborate in teams.
An Introduction to Interdisciplinary Research serves as a systematic manual to guide students through this interdisciplinary research process.
List of contents
Acknowledgements, Preface, Chapter guides, Part 1 The Handbook - 'The What' 1 Introduction 2 What is science? A brief philosophy of science 2.1 What is science?, 2.2 Moving through the Science Cycle 3 The disciplines 3.1 Academic disciplines: A brief history 3.2 Our definition of a discipline 3.3 Classification of academic disciplines 4 Interdisciplinarity 5 Complexity: the main driving force behind interdisciplinarity 5.1 Complex (adaptive) systems 5.2 Complexity broken down into drivers of interdisciplinarity 6 Interdisciplinary integration 6.1 Communication as a first step to integration 6.2 Integration techniques Part 2 The Manual - 'The How' 7 The interdisciplinary research process 7.1 The IIS model of interdisciplinary research 7.2 Planning your research project 8 The problem Step 1 Identify problem or topic Step 2 Formulate preliminary research question 9 Theoretical framework and research question Step 3 Develop theoretical framework Step 4 Finalize research question Step 5 Formulate sub-questions 10 How to collect and analyze your data Step 6 Develop research methods and design Step 7 Data collection and analysis 11 Discussion and conclusion(s), Step 8 Interpret results, discuss research & draw conclusion(s), Part 3 Interdisciplinary research in practice 12 Interdisciplinary research example: fogponics Step 1 Identify problem or topic Step 2 Formulate preliminary research question Step 3 Develop theoretical framework Step 4 Finalize research question Step 5 Formulate sub-questions Step 6 Develop research methods and design Step 7 Data collection and analysis Step 8 Interpret results, discuss research & draw conclusion(s), 13 Interdisciplinary careers, Further reading, References, References Research projects undertaken by IIS students.
About the author
Machiel Keestra is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies (University of Amsterdam) and former president of the Association for Interdisciplinary Studies. Anne Uilhoorn is Lecturer in Future Planet Studies at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies (University of Amsterdam). Jelle Zandveld is Assistant Professor at the Education Institute Biology (Utrecht University).
