Interdisciplinary Research: Process and Theory

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SAGE, May 29, 2008 - Social Science - 395 pages

Interdisciplinary Research: Process and Theory is the first book that systematically guides students in how to approach and follow through on research projects that straddle disciplines. Featuring an easy-to-follow approach that is grounded in theory, it is packed with examples of interdisciplinary research from the natural sciences, the social sciences, and the humanities. Students will gain a solid foundation on how to achieve, produce, and express integration.

Key Features and Benefits

· Blends practice and theory by delineating a step-by-step research process that is based in relevant scholarly literature

· Illustrates each step of the research process, using examples of professional and student work oriented toward the natural sciences, the social sciences, and the humanities

· Offers an easy-to-follow checklist so students can evaluate previous research

· Provides extensive information on the different disciplines to help students develop an understanding of disciplinary perspectives and their defining elements

Intended Audience

This core text is designed for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses in interdisciplinary research methods and will be especially helpful for courses requiring research papers.

 

Contents

Tracing the Origins of Interdisciplinarity
27
Operationalizing Disciplinary Perspective
51
Defining the Elements of Disciplines
83
Explaining the Importance of Integration
115
Beginning the Research Process
137
Identifying Relevant Disciplines
160
Developing Adequacy in Relevant Disciplines
189
Analyzing the Problem and Evaluating Each Insight Into It
217
Creating Common Ground
271
Integrating Insights and Producing an Interdisciplinary
295
Interdisciplinarity for the New Century
321
Interdisciplinary Resources
327
Glossary of Key Terms
335
References
355
Author Index
371
About the Author
395

Identifying Conflicts in Insights
247

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About the author (2008)

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).

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