Towards an Understanding of Interdisciplinarity: The Case of a British University

Autor/inn/en	Razzaq, Jamila; Townsend, Tony; Pisapia, John
Titel	Towards an Understanding of Interdisciplinarity: The Case of a British University
Quelle	In: Issues in Interdisciplinary Studies, (2013) 31, S.149-173 (25 Seiten) PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1081-4760
Schlagwörter	Interdisciplinary Approach; Mixed Methods Research; Case Studies; Semi Structured Interviews; School Restructuring; Research Methodology; College Faculty; Teacher Attitudes; Institutional Mission; Incentives; Teacher Surveys; Research Universities; Definitions; Problem Solving; Foreign Countries; United Kingdom + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Fächerübergreifender Unterricht; Fächerverbindender Unterricht; Interdisziplinarität; Case study; Fallstudie; Case Study; Schulreformplan; Schulumwandlung; Research method; Forschungsmethode; Fakultät; Lehrerverhalten; Anreiz; Forschungseinrichtung; Begriffsbestimmung; Problemlösen; Ausland; Großbritannien
Abstract	This study explores what academics in one major university in Great Britain (The Great Western University) perceive interdisciplinary research (IDR) to be, and in doing so, differentiates it from associated concepts, such as multidisciplinary research and transdisciplinary research, found in the research literature. This study is important because the university in which the study is set has undertaken a complete restructuring of colleges and departments to support interdisciplinary research. The inquiry utilized a two-phased, mixed methods, descriptive case study to examine perceptions of the nature, significance, and benefits of multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research. The methods of data collection were semi-structured interview (25 participants), survey (127 participants), and analysis of archival documents. The findings indicate that the restructuring of The Great Western University to support interdisciplinary research began on less than firm footing. While scholars seem to have clarified in the definitions of interdisciplinary approaches, in practice there is still a lack of clarity in sectors which are less familiar with interdisciplinary approaches to solving major problems facing society. We identified issues of clarity of terminology and mission, flexibility of implementation, and alignment of faculty incentives as involving necessary but unmet conditions for fostering and promoting interdisciplinarity throughout the university. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Association for Interdisciplinary Studies. Oakland University, Macomb County, 44575 Garfield Road Building UC2 Suite 103, Clinton Township, MI 48038. Tel: 586-263-6098; Fax: 586-263-6261; e-mail: aisorg@oakland.edu; Web site: http://wwwp.oakland.edu/ais
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01