The document discusses definitions and distinctions between interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, and transdisciplinary research, emphasizing the varying levels of integration and collaboration among different disciplines. It outlines motivations for interdisciplinary research, barriers that hinder its success, and skills needed for both researchers and managers in this field. Additionally, references to related literature are provided to support the content.

1. INTERDISCIPLINARY
RESEARCH
Session 5

2. Definitions of Interdisciplinary Research
Discipline A
Discipline B
Discipline C
Multidisciplinary research
Interdisciplinary research
Discipline A
Discipline B
Discipline C
Issue A
Issue B
Issue C
Transdisciplinary research
Multidisciplinary research which
approaches a problem from the
perspectives of a number of different
disciplines, but where each
discipline works in a self-contained
manner and there is no integration
across disciplines)
Interdisciplinary research which
approaches a problem from the
perspectives of a number of different
disciplines and where the
contributions of the various disciplines
are formally integrated to give a
synergistic outcome where the whole
is greater than the sum of the parts).
Transdisciplinary research a-
disciplinary; ignores disciplines,
focuses on issues

3. Types of interdisciplinary research
Academically-oriented ID Research
• often longer-term collaborations
• discipline focused
• helps disciplines to evolve
Problem-focused ID Research
• shorter term collaborations
• directed to specific real world problems
• could be interdisciplinary or
transdisciplinary

4. Contribution to
development of
disciplines
Contribution to
practical
problem solving
Level of integration
Multi-
disciplinary
Research
Inter-
disciplinary
Research
Low High
Problem
focused
Academic
orientation

5. Motivations for ID research
• Policy issue interdisciplinary (e.g.
transport, environment)
• Knowledge transfer (lab to real world)
• Research user driven (not necessarily
commercial) and heavily applied
• Single discipline research had encountered
a bottle-neck, more than one discipline
needed to make a breakthrough

6. Factors that discourage ID research
• Poor career structures for academic
interdisciplinary researchers
• Low esteem of interdisciplinary research
by mono-disciplinary colleagues
• Lack of opportunities to publish research
results in high ranking refereed journals
• Discrimination by referees against
interdisciplinary research proposals and
publications

7. Skills needs for individual researchers
• Understanding the languages,
research methods and cultures of
different disciplines
• High tolerance of ambiguity –
personality more important than
discipline base
• Willingness to learn from other
disciplines

8. Skills needs for research managers
•interdisciplinary background
•respect for other disciplines
•good interpersonal and team building skills
•proactive in engaging with other partners
•not too ambitious in their own field
•interested in a wide range of subjects

9. References
Bruce, A., Lyall, C., Tait, J. and Williams, R. (2004), “Interdisciplinary
Integration in the Fifth Framework Programme”, Futures, 36/4, pp.
457-470.
Tait J. and Lyall C. (2001) “Short Term Investigation into ESRC
Funded Interdisciplinary Research”. Report to ESRC published as
SUPRA Working Paper 26.