Ch. 10

Preface

• Dedication: To spouses, children, and grandchildren, emphasizing the significance of ideas.

• Quote: "The greatest force in the world is an idea whose time has come."

SAGE Publishing Overview

• Founding: SAGE Publishing established in 1965 by Sara Miller McCune.

• Mission: Support dissemination of usable knowledge and education globally.

• Publications: Publishes over 1000 journals and 600 books annually across various subjects.

• Resources: Offers archives, data, case studies, and media products.

• Ownership Model: Majority ownership retained by founder, transitioning to charitable trust posthumously.

Chapter Overview

Title

• Chapter 10: An Interdisciplinary Research "Road Map"

Key Authors

• Authors: Allen F. Repko, Rick Szostak, Michelle Phillips Buchberger.

• Affiliations: Universities including Texas at Arlington, Alberta, and Miami University.

Learning Outcomes

• Students will be able to:

  • Understand research importance and its role in education.

  • Compare disciplinary vs. interdisciplinary research approaches.

  • Understand and apply the Broad Model of interdisciplinary process.

  • Evaluate interdisciplinary work using the Broad Model Rubric.

Guiding Questions

• Main Inquiry: How and why do we conduct interdisciplinary research?

• Sub-questions:

  • How to identify a good interdisciplinary research question?

  • How to evaluate interdisciplinary research?

Importance of Research

• Professional Development: Critical for academic and career advancements.

• Research Definition: Process of collecting information to understand complex phenomena.

• Skills Required: Ability to find, analyze, and implement data effectively.

Role of Research in the Information Age

• Data Explosion: Increase in data from various institutions (government, NGOs, etc.).

• Research application: Essential for job market competitiveness and policy improvements.

• Evidence-Based Programs: Need for demonstrated understanding of research for funding initiatives.

Power and Usefulness of Research

• Benefits include:

  • Evidence for decision-making.

  • Enhanced understanding of topics.

  • Identification of available options and issues.

  • Prevention of misguided directions.

Disciplinary vs. Interdisciplinary Approaches to Research

Disciplinary Approach

• Focused on single perspectives and methods.

• Limitations include:

  • Inability to integrate multiple insights.

  • Narrow problem definitions.

  • Lack of comprehensive understanding of complex issues.

Interdisciplinary Approach

• Integrates insights from multiple disciplines.

• Emphasizes:

  • Understanding complexity (e.g. terrorism study).

  • Employing diverse methodologies for research.

  • Producing comprehensive conclusions.

Comparison Table: Disciplinary vs. Interdisciplinary Approaches

Broad Model of Interdisciplinary Research Process

Advantages of the Broad Model

• Integration of Disciplines: Utilizes insights from various fields (natural sciences, social sciences, humanities).

• Cognitive Process: Developed through a systematic progression from problem definition to understanding.

• Stepwise Decision Points: Facilitates reflective thinking throughout the research process.

Steps in the Broad Model

1. Define the problem or state the research question.

2. Justify the use of an interdisciplinary approach.

3. Identify relevant disciplines.

4. Conduct a literature search.

5. Critically analyze disciplinary insights and conflicts.

6. Reflect on how the research process improves understanding.

Definition of Research Questions

• Characteristics of a good interdisciplinary research question:

  • Must be complex and researchable across disciplines.

  • Example: Issues like terrorism that encompass multiple dimensions.

Development of Research Questions

• Clarity: Focus and scope of study must be clearly defined.

• Scope: Details what is included/excluded in research.

• Avoid Bias: Free from disciplinary jargon, biases, and personal points of view.

• Significance: Must address the importance of the question (the "so what?" factor).

Broad Model Rubric for Step 1 and Step 2

• Provides explicit criteria to evaluate interdisciplinary research proposals:

  • Clearly defines the research problem.

  • Justifies the need for interdisciplinary analysis based on complexity, insights from multiple disciplines, and societal relevance.

Practical Applications

• Example Projects: Include titles and evaluations focusing on interdisciplinary themes such as sex discrimination and environmental sustainability.

• Peer Evaluation Tips: Use structured feedback methods like the Broad Model Rubric to refine research questions.