1. About Interdisciplinary Studies & Disciplines
Chapter 1:
Introducing Interdisciplinary Studies
Interdisciplinary Research, 3rd Edition, SAGE Inc. © 2016

2. Chapter 1: Introducing Interdisciplinary Studies
Learning Outcomes
Define interdisciplinary studies
Describe the intellectual essence of interdisciplinarity
Distinguish interdisciplinarity from multidisciplinarity, transdisciplinarity, and integrative studies

3. Defining Interdisciplinary Studies
A diverse and growing academic field
To develop a more comprehensive understanding of complex problems
Three components
Inter
Disciplinary
Studies
Disciplines are not the focus of the interdisciplinarians attention; the focus is the problem or issue or intellectual question that each discipline is addressing.
The term interdisciplinary is often a lightening rod for argument
Key concepts continue to emerge for those who are focused on its value.
Inter
The space between
Discipline, Branch of learning, characterized by
A discipline is:
The academic platform for generating new knowledge and imparting that knowledge to others
A subject within the academy that has a unique content, language, theories, assumptions, methods of research
Studies
In academia the understanding is that a STUDY focuses on a subject and how different disciplines address that subject
It does not build on one set of core knowledge – but multiple sets

4. Definition of Interdisciplinary Studies
“Interdisciplinary studies is a process of answering a question, solving a problem, or addressing a topic that is too broad or complex to be dealt with adequately by a single discipline, and draws on the disciplines with the goal of integrating their insights to construct a more comprehensive understanding” (Repko & Szostak, 2016, p. 8).

5. Intellectual Essence of Interdisciplinarity
Two dominant forms
Instrumental
Problem driven
Critical
Society driven
Instrumental: a pragmatic approach
Critical: is contextual; uses a both/and approach

6. Assumptions of Interdisciplinarity
The complex reality beyond the university makes it necessary
The disciplines are foundational to Interdisciplinarity
Assumptions anchor this diverse and rapidly evolving field
Interdisciplinary studies is a cognitive process by which researchers draw on disciplinary perspectives and integrate their insights and modes of thinking to advance understanding of a complex problem with the goal of applying it.

7. Assumptions of Interdisciplinarity
The disciplines by themselves are inadequate to address complexity comprehensively
Interdisciplinarity is able to integrate insights from relevant disciplines
3. The disciplines:
Lack breadth
Do not offer broad based solutions
Practice a reductionist approach
4. Based on the cognitive and methodological tools to achieve integration

8. Theories OF interdisciplinarity
Interdisciplinary complexity theory
Perspective taking
Common Ground
Integration

9. Epistemology of Interdisciplinarity
Epistemological Pluralism
How Epistemological Pluralism Integrates Critical and Instrumental Modes of Interdisciplinarity
How Epistemological Pluralism Addresses Complexity
This refers to the diverse approaches that disciplines use to know and describe reality, and accepting the ambiguity that may arise
Progress results from the interplay of ideas with the goal of progress through complex problem solving

10. Interdisciplinarity is not …
Multidisciplinarity
Transdisciplinarity
Integrative Studies
Multidisciplinarity – disciplinary work side by side
Transdisciplinarity – beyond the academy to also include community input
Integrative Studies – the focus of study that encourages students to integrate academic learning with the real world