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Interdisciplinary Research
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Interdisciplinary Research
Process and Theory

Fourth Edition


January 2020 | 472 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
Interdisciplinary Research: Process and Theory offers a comprehensive, systematic presentation of the interdisciplinary decision-making process by drawing on student and professional work from the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and applied fields.

Designed for active learning and problem-based approaches, the Fourth Edition includes expanded discussion of epistemology, creativity within the interdisciplinary research process, confirmation bias and social media, the philosophy of integration, and student work patterns, mapping, and the importance of performing independent research while working through this book. 

An Instructor website for the book at http://study.sagepub.com/repko4e includes a test bank, PowerPoint slides, and tables and figures from the book.
 
 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Authors
 
PART I • ABOUT INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES AND DISCIPLINES
 
Chapter 1 • Introducing Interdisciplinary Studies
Learning Outcomes

 
Guiding Questions

 
Chapter Objectives

 
Defining Interdisciplinary Studies

 
The Intellectual Essence of Interdisciplinarity

 
Distinguishing Interdisciplinarity From Multidisciplinarity, Transdisciplinarity, and Integrative Studies

 
Chapter Summary

 
Notes

 
Exercises

 
 
Chapter 2 • Introducing the Disciplines and Their Perspectives
Learning Outcomes

 
Guiding Questions

 
Chapter 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
 
Chapter 3 • Beginning the Research Process
Learning Outcomes

 
Guiding Questions

 
Chapter Objectives

 
The Integrated Model of the Interdisciplinary Research Process

 
Key Characteristics of Interdisciplinary Research

 
STEP 1: Define the Problem or State the Research Question

 
Creativity and STEP 1

 
STEP 2: Justify Using an Interdisciplinary Approach

 
Chapter Summary

 
Notes

 
Exercises

 
 
Chapter 4 • Identifying Relevant Disciplines
Learning Outcomes

 
Guiding Questions

 
Chapter 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

 
 
Chapter 5 • Conducting the Literature Search
Learning Outcomes

 
Guiding Questions

 
Chapter 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

 
 
Chapter 6 • Developing Adequacy in Relevant Disciplines
Learning Outcomes

 
Guiding Questions

 
Chapter 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

 
 
Chapter 7 • Analyzing the Problem and Evaluating Insights
Learning Outcomes

 
Guiding Questions

 
Chapter Objectives

 
Analyze the Problem From Each Discipline’s Perspective

 
Evaluate the Insights Produced by Each Discipline

 
Checklist for Evaluating Previous Research

 
Chapter Summary

 
Note

 
Exercises

 
 
PART III • INTEGRATING INSIGHTS
 
Chapter 8 • Understanding Integration
Learning Outcomes

 
Guiding Questions

 
Chapter 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

 
 
Chapter 9 • Identifying Conflicts Among Insights and Their Sources
Learning Outcomes

 
Guiding Questions

 
Chapter Objectives

 
Identify Conflicting Insights

 
Locate Sources of Conflict Among Insights

 
Communicate Your Research to the Appropriate Audience

 
Chapter Summary

 
Exercises

 
 
Chapter 10 • Creating Common Ground Among Insights: Concepts and/or Assumptions
Learning Outcomes

 
Guiding Questions

 
Chapter Objectives

 
About Interdisciplinary Common Ground

 
Create Common Ground Among Conflicting Concepts and/or Assumptions

 
Chapter Summary

 
Notes

 
Exercises

 
 
Chapter 11 • Creating Common Ground Among Insights: Theories
Learning Outcomes

 
Guiding Questions

 
Chapter Objectives

 
Defining Disciplinary Theory

 
Models, Variables, Concepts, and Causal Relationships

 
Create Common Ground Among Theories

 
Chapter Summary

 
Notes

 
Exercises

 
 
Chapter 12 • Constructing a More Comprehensive Understanding or Theory
Learning Outcomes

 
Guiding Questions

 
Chapter Objectives

 
Definition of “More Comprehensive Understanding”

 
Be Creative

 
Construct the More Comprehensive Understanding From Modified Concepts and/or Assumptions

 
Construct a More Comprehensive Theory From a Modified Theory

 
Chapter Summary

 
Notes

 
Exercises

 
 
Chapter 13 • Reflecting on, Testing, and Communicating the Understanding or Theory
Learning Outcomes

 
Guiding Questions

 
Chapter Objectives

 
Reflect on the More Comprehensive Understanding or Theory

 
Test the Quality of Interdisciplinary Work

 
Test the More Comprehensive Understanding or Theory

 
Communicate the Results of Integration

 
Chapter Summary

 
Notes

 
Exercises

 
 
Conclusion
 
Appendix
 
Glossary of Key Terms
 
References
 
Index

Supplements

Instructor Resource Site

Instructor resources at http://study.sagepub.com/repko4e include:

A test bank with a variety of question types to accompany this book.

Editable, chapter-specific Microsoft® PowerPoint® slides to offer you complete flexibility in easily creating a multimedia presentation for your course and highlight essential content and features.

Tables and figures pulled directly from the book are available for you to add to course materials at your convenience.  

“In this Fourth Edition, Repko and Szostak have gone further to de-mystify the interdisciplinary research process. By providing students with guiding study questions within each chapter, adding extended advice on how to choose a complex research question, and illustrating that many of the strategies outlined in this text can be applied beyond the academy, they are more responsive to the needs of both professors and students.”

Charles R. Hamilton
Texas A&M University, Central Texas

“Repko and Szostak’s text remains a vital guide to interdisciplinary inquiry, with clear accounts of an ideal progression from initial idea through completed project. While oriented to all levels from undergraduates to professional scholars, the book ably serves as a text for doctoral students; it has helped them achieve profound contributions. The current edition expands on instruction regarding literature searches and research questions, while encouraging students to rely on their own creativity as novel approaches are conceived and interpretations of findings sought.”

Carol Barrett
Union Institute & University and Saybrook University

"The Fourth Edition of Interdisciplinary Research offers improved clarity and usability, particularly for undergraduate researchers. Guiding questions at the beginning of each chapter encourage readers to remain focused, and newly incorporated examples of relevant, recent research demonstrate that interdisciplinary perspectives have the power to help us understand and shape the world around us—including people, policies, and even public spaces—for the better.”

Anissa J. Sorokin
Stevenson University

“The revised edition of Interdisciplinary Research is timely and well received! Literature on interdisciplinary research has increased and developed to include a synthesis theory and practice from around the world. This book is recommended for undergraduate and graduate students and those involved in interdisciplinary research. Instructors using this as a primary or supplemental text will find the pedagogical revisions helpful in challenging students to engage with the interdisciplinary research process. I highly recommend it.”

Marcus Tanner
Texas Tech University

Allen F. Repko

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). More About Author

Richard Szostak

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... More About Author

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ISBN: 9781544398600
$129.00