
Interdisciplinary Research
Process and Theory
SAGE Publications Inc (Publisher)
3rd Edition
Published on 21. June 2016
Book
Paperback/Softback
464 pages
978-1-5063-3048-8 (ISBN)
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Description
This book offers a comprehensive and systematic presentation of the interdisciplinary research process and the theory that informs it.
Reviews / Votes
"From undergraduates to seasoned research teams, Repko and Szostak make interdisciplinary research accessible to all by the grounding of elusive concepts in a systematic approach to the study of complex problems. This text is vital to interdisciplinary studies and should be implemented in all interdisciplinary and integrative programs." -- Jennifer P. Anderson PRAISE FOR THE PREVIOUS EDITION"This is the premier text for interdisciplinary research and advances all 'studies' fields through its systematic treatment of the interdisciplinary research process. By explaining interdisciplinary research as a process, Repko gives students the framework needed to carry out valuable and forward-thinking research." -- James Lacey "An outstanding contribution to the field, suitable for beginners and advanced researchers alike." -- Andrew T. Arroyo "Repko gives relevant examples and carries them through the entire text, building on disciplinary insights while focusing on interdisciplinary integration." -- Dave Conz
More details
Edition
3rd Revised edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Thousand Oaks
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Edition type
Revised edition
Dimensions
Height: 232 mm
Width: 187 mm
Weight
766 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5063-3048-8 (9781506330488)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
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Book
02/2021
4th Edition
SAGE Publications Inc
€169.36
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Previous edition

Book
12/2011
2nd Edition
SAGE Publications Inc
€89.33
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Persons
Allen F. Repko, PhD, is the former director of the interdisciplinary studies program in the School of Urban and Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Arlington, where he developed and taught the program's core curriculum for many years. The program is one of the largest in the United States. Repko has written extensively on all aspects of interdisciplinary studies, has twice served as coeditor of the interdisciplinary journal Issues in Integrative Studies, and has served on the board of the Association for Interdisciplinary Studies (AIS).
Rick Szostak, PhD, is professor and chair of economics at the University of Alberta, where he has taught for 34 years. He is the author of a dozen books and 50 articles, all of an interdisciplinary nature. Several of his publications address how to do interdisciplinary research, teach interdisciplinary courses, administer interdisciplinary programs, or organize information in order to facilitate interdisciplinarity. As an associate dean, he created the Office of Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Alberta, the Science, Technology and Society program, an individualized major, and two courses about interdisciplinarity. He has twice served as coeditor of the interdisciplinary journal Issues in Integrative Studies. He was president of the Association for Interdisciplinary Studies (AIS) from 2011 to 2014. He can be contacted at rszostak@ualberta.ca.
Rick Szostak, PhD, is professor and chair of economics at the University of Alberta, where he has taught for 34 years. He is the author of a dozen books and 50 articles, all of an interdisciplinary nature. Several of his publications address how to do interdisciplinary research, teach interdisciplinary courses, administer interdisciplinary programs, or organize information in order to facilitate interdisciplinarity. As an associate dean, he created the Office of Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Alberta, the Science, Technology and Society program, an individualized major, and two courses about interdisciplinarity. He has twice served as coeditor of the interdisciplinary journal Issues in Integrative Studies. He was president of the Association for Interdisciplinary Studies (AIS) from 2011 to 2014. He can be contacted at rszostak@ualberta.ca.
Content
Part I. About Interdisciplinary Studies and Disciplines
1. Introducing Interdisciplinary Studies
Learning Outcomes
Objectives
Defining Interdisciplinary Studies
The Intellectual Essence of Interdisciplinarity
Distinguishing Interdisciplinarity from Multidisciplinarity, Transdisciplinarity, and Integrative Studies
Chapter Summary
Notes
Exercises
2. Introducing the Disciplines and Their Perspectives
Learning Outcomes
Objectives
Defining Disciplinary Perspective
How Knowledge is Typically Reflected in the Organization of the Academy
Categories of Disciplines
Disciplinary Perspectives
Unpacking the Defining Elements of a Discipline's Perspective
Chapter Summary
Notes
Exercises
Part II. Drawing on Disciplinary Insights
3. Beginning the Research Process
Learning Outcomes
Objectives
The Integrated Model of Interdisciplinary Research Process
Key Characteristics of Interdisciplinary Research
Step 1: Define the Problem or State the Research Question
Step 2: Justify Using an Interdisciplinary Approach
Chapter Summary
Notes
Exercises
4. Identifying Relevant Disciplines
Learning Outcomes
Objectives
Select Potentially Relevant Disciplines
Map the Problem to Reveal Its Disciplinary Parts
Reduce the Number of Potentially Relevant Disciplines to Those That Are Most Relevant
Chapter Summary
Notes
Exercises
5. Conducting the Literature Search
Learning Outcomes
Objectives
Meaning of Literature Search
Reasons for Conducting the Literature Search
Special Challenges Confronting Interdisciplinarians
The Initial Literature Search
The Full-Scale Literature Search
Chapter Summary
Notes
Exercises
6. Developing Adequacy in Relevant Disciplines
Learning Outcomes
Objectives
The Meaning of Adequacy
Develop Adequacy in Theories
Develop Adequacy in Disciplinary Methods
Use and Evaluate Disciplinary Methods in Basic Research
Provide In-Text Evidence of Disciplinary Adequacy
Chapter Summary
Notes
Exercises
7. Analyzing the Problems and Evaluating Insights
Learning Outcomes
Objectives
Analyze the Problem from Each Discipline's Perspective
Evaluate the Insights Produced by Each Discipline
Checklist for Evaluating Previous Research
Chapter Summary
Notes
Exercises
Part III. Integrating Insights
8. Understanding Integration
Learning Outcomes
Objectives
What Interdisciplinary Integration Is
The Controversy Concerning Integration
Integration in the Broad Model
Questions Raised by This Discussion of Integration
Chapter Summary
Notes
Exercises
9. Identifying Conflicts Between Insights and Their Sources
Learning Outcomes
Objectives
Identify Conflicting Insights
Locate Sources of Conflict Between Insights
Communicate Your Research to the Appropriate Audience
Chapter Summary
Exercises
10. Creating Common Ground Between Insights: Concepts and/or Assumptions
Learning Outcomes
Objectives
About Interdisciplinary Common Ground
Create Common Ground Between Conflicting Concepts and/or Assumptions
Chapter Summary
Notes
Exercises
11. Creating Common Ground Between Insights: Theories
Learning Outcomes
Objectives
Defining Disciplinary Theory
Models, Variables, Concepts, and Causal Relationships
Create Common Ground Between Theories
When Theories Differ Only Minimally
Chapter Summary
Notes
Exercises
12. Constructing a More Comprehensive Understanding or Theory
Learning Outcomes
Objectives
Definition of "More Comprehensive Understanding"
Construct the More Comprehensive Understanding From Modified Concepts and/or Assumptions
Construct a More Comprehensive Theory from Modified Theory
Chapter Summary
Notes
Exercises
13. Reflecting on, Testing, and Communicating the Understanding or Theory
Learning Outcomes
Objectives
Reflect on the More Comprehensive Understanding
Test the Quality of Interdisciplinary Work
Test the More Comprehensive Understanding
Communicate the Results of Integration
Chapter Summary
Note
Exercises
14. Conclusion
1. Introducing Interdisciplinary Studies
Learning Outcomes
Objectives
Defining Interdisciplinary Studies
The Intellectual Essence of Interdisciplinarity
Distinguishing Interdisciplinarity from Multidisciplinarity, Transdisciplinarity, and Integrative Studies
Chapter Summary
Notes
Exercises
2. Introducing the Disciplines and Their Perspectives
Learning Outcomes
Objectives
Defining Disciplinary Perspective
How Knowledge is Typically Reflected in the Organization of the Academy
Categories of Disciplines
Disciplinary Perspectives
Unpacking the Defining Elements of a Discipline's Perspective
Chapter Summary
Notes
Exercises
Part II. Drawing on Disciplinary Insights
3. Beginning the Research Process
Learning Outcomes
Objectives
The Integrated Model of Interdisciplinary Research Process
Key Characteristics of Interdisciplinary Research
Step 1: Define the Problem or State the Research Question
Step 2: Justify Using an Interdisciplinary Approach
Chapter Summary
Notes
Exercises
4. Identifying Relevant Disciplines
Learning Outcomes
Objectives
Select Potentially Relevant Disciplines
Map the Problem to Reveal Its Disciplinary Parts
Reduce the Number of Potentially Relevant Disciplines to Those That Are Most Relevant
Chapter Summary
Notes
Exercises
5. Conducting the Literature Search
Learning Outcomes
Objectives
Meaning of Literature Search
Reasons for Conducting the Literature Search
Special Challenges Confronting Interdisciplinarians
The Initial Literature Search
The Full-Scale Literature Search
Chapter Summary
Notes
Exercises
6. Developing Adequacy in Relevant Disciplines
Learning Outcomes
Objectives
The Meaning of Adequacy
Develop Adequacy in Theories
Develop Adequacy in Disciplinary Methods
Use and Evaluate Disciplinary Methods in Basic Research
Provide In-Text Evidence of Disciplinary Adequacy
Chapter Summary
Notes
Exercises
7. Analyzing the Problems and Evaluating Insights
Learning Outcomes
Objectives
Analyze the Problem from Each Discipline's Perspective
Evaluate the Insights Produced by Each Discipline
Checklist for Evaluating Previous Research
Chapter Summary
Notes
Exercises
Part III. Integrating Insights
8. Understanding Integration
Learning Outcomes
Objectives
What Interdisciplinary Integration Is
The Controversy Concerning Integration
Integration in the Broad Model
Questions Raised by This Discussion of Integration
Chapter Summary
Notes
Exercises
9. Identifying Conflicts Between Insights and Their Sources
Learning Outcomes
Objectives
Identify Conflicting Insights
Locate Sources of Conflict Between Insights
Communicate Your Research to the Appropriate Audience
Chapter Summary
Exercises
10. Creating Common Ground Between Insights: Concepts and/or Assumptions
Learning Outcomes
Objectives
About Interdisciplinary Common Ground
Create Common Ground Between Conflicting Concepts and/or Assumptions
Chapter Summary
Notes
Exercises
11. Creating Common Ground Between Insights: Theories
Learning Outcomes
Objectives
Defining Disciplinary Theory
Models, Variables, Concepts, and Causal Relationships
Create Common Ground Between Theories
When Theories Differ Only Minimally
Chapter Summary
Notes
Exercises
12. Constructing a More Comprehensive Understanding or Theory
Learning Outcomes
Objectives
Definition of "More Comprehensive Understanding"
Construct the More Comprehensive Understanding From Modified Concepts and/or Assumptions
Construct a More Comprehensive Theory from Modified Theory
Chapter Summary
Notes
Exercises
13. Reflecting on, Testing, and Communicating the Understanding or Theory
Learning Outcomes
Objectives
Reflect on the More Comprehensive Understanding
Test the Quality of Interdisciplinary Work
Test the More Comprehensive Understanding
Communicate the Results of Integration
Chapter Summary
Note
Exercises
14. Conclusion