Multidisciplinarity, Interdisciplinarity, and Bridging Disciplines: A Matter of Process

Journal of Research Practice 3 (2):Article M18 (2007)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

Bridging disciplines have much to teach us about how to combine analytical tools to tackle problems and questions that cross traditional disciplinary boundaries. This article uses examples from the older bridging disciplines of geography and anthropology in order to consider what the relatively young undertaking labeled “interdisciplinary studies” can learn from their long existence. It explains what is meant by the fallacy of nomothetic claim and considers the fruitful production of answers and solutions by viewing process (methodology) not domain (academic turf), as the key to interdisciplinary success. Staking claim to interdisciplinarity is shown to be unproductive while finding the need for interdisciplinary approaches and following the mandates of that need in the pursuit of solutions to problems and questions strengthens both the disciplines and the development of interdisciplinary studies

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 90,593

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

How and Why to Teach Interdisciplinary Research Practice.Rick Szostak - 2007 - Journal of Research Practice 3 (2):Article M17.
Multidisciplinarity, Interdisciplinarity, Transdisciplinarity, and the Sciences.David Alvargonzález - 2011 - International Studies in the Philosophy of Science 25 (4):387-403.
The Oxford Handbook of Interdisciplinarity.Robert Frodeman, Julie Thompson Klein & Carl Mitcham (eds.) - 2010 - Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.
The Philosophy of Interdisciplinarity: Sustainability Science and Problem-Feeding.Henrik Thorén & Johannes Persson - 2013 - Journal for General Philosophy of Science / Zeitschrift für Allgemeine Wissenschaftstheorie 44 (2):337-355.
Interdisziplinäre Systemintegration und Innovationsgenese: Ein methodologischer Zugang für die interdisziplinäre Forschung. [REVIEW]Dietmar Wechsler & Annette C. Hurst - 2011 - Journal for General Philosophy of Science / Zeitschrift für Allgemeine Wissenschaftstheorie 42 (1):141-155.

Analytics

Added to PP
2013-11-24

Downloads
36 (#385,000)

6 months
2 (#668,348)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?