Introduction to Interdisciplinary Research

Machiel Keestra is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies (University of Amsterdam) and former president of the Association for Interdisciplinary Studies. Anne Uilhoorn is Lecturer in Future Planet Studies at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies (University of Amsterdam). Jelle Zandveld is Assistant Professor at the Education Institute Biology (Utrecht University).

• Acknowledgements, Preface, Chapter guides, Part 1 The Handbook - 'The What' 1 Introduction 2 What is science? A brief philosophy of science 2.1 What is science?, 2.2 Moving through the Science Cycle 3 The disciplines 3.1 Academic disciplines: A brief history 3.2 Our definition of a discipline 3.3 Classification of academic disciplines 4 Interdisciplinarity 5 Complexity: the main driving force behind interdisciplinarity 5.1 Complex (adaptive) systems 5.2 Complexity broken down into drivers of interdisciplinarity 6 Interdisciplinary integration 6.1 Communication as a first step to integration 6.2 Integration techniques Part 2 The Manual - 'The How' 7 The interdisciplinary research process 7.1 The IIS model of interdisciplinary research 7.2 Planning your research project 8 The problem Step 1 Identify problem or topic Step 2 Formulate preliminary research question 9 Theoretical framework and research question Step 3 Develop theoretical framework Step 4 Finalize research question Step 5 Formulate sub-questions 10 How to collect and analyze your data Step 6 Develop research methods and design Step 7 Data collection and analysis 11 Discussion and conclusion(s), Step 8 Interpret results, discuss research & draw conclusion(s), Part 3 Interdisciplinary research in practice 12 Interdisciplinary research example: fogponics Step 1 Identify problem or topic Step 2 Formulate preliminary research question Step 3 Develop theoretical framework Step 4 Finalize research question Step 5 Formulate sub-questions Step 6 Develop research methods and design Step 7 Data collection and analysis Step 8 Interpret results, discuss research & draw conclusion(s), 13 Interdisciplinary careers, Further reading, References, References Research projects undertaken by IIS students.