Intedisciplinarity

[gL.edu] This article gathers contributions being developed by Izaro Belloso, Maider Acedo López, Irene Hernandez Gonzalez, within the context of the Conceptual clarification about "Information, Knowledge and Philosophy", under the supervisión of J.M. Díaz Nafría.

Teacher's Comments: This article requires the corrections indicated below: While discussing the benefits, issues and methods, it will be interesting to compare them with multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary (especially in the second understanding that was originally not considered by the authors and was added by the supervisor). In order to contextualise the clarification about 'interdisciplinarity' in the history of philosophy and science, it would be appropriate to address the problem of the specialisation of sciences. Díaz-Nafría et al (2019) offers that view. S. Díaz-Nafría et al (2019). glossaLAB: Co-creating Interdisciplinary Knowledge. Communications in Computer and Information Science, 1051, pp. 423-437, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32475-9_31

Students are often taught about the values of working in groups with people with different opinions and ideas, thus encouraging interdisciplinarity. But what is interdisciplinarity and what are its advantages? This text addresses interdisciplinarity in different ways and invites to question what has always been taken for granted.

1. Definitions

Interdisciplinarity, briefly defined as ‘combining many academic fields or methods’, comes from inter-, meaning ‘among, between, in the midst of’ from Latin; discipline, a Latin word glossed in Old English by þeodscipe meaning ‘treatment that corrects or punishes’ and -ary, which comes from Latin and means ‘related to’. (Harper, D., n.d.). The first known use of this adjective dates back to the 1930s. More precisely, the first reference to interdisciplinarity is from 1931, in Library Quarterly. (OED, n.d.)

Interdisciplinary work is not a new concept; its first uses date back to the work of ancient philosophers, who were considered the precursors of modern scientists (Hollingsworth & Hollingsworth, 2000). However, this approach changed in the mid-19th century, when science underwent a professionalisation, improving the training of scientists. The methods of the old philosophers disappeared in this process.

Nowadays, most projects are based on a single discipline, forcing researchers and project participants to work within the methodological boundaries of a single discipline. Although different techniques, methods and technologies originate within each discipline, in order to address interdisciplinary issues and projects it is necessary to look outside these barriers or boundaries, making use of technologies and methods from several disciplines and thus benefiting the research. Klein (2010) shows how academic cultures oppose and resist these changes, as they require both institutional backing and technical expertise.

These barriers still persist today. According to the National Academy of Sciences (2004), current institutions do not provide sufficient mechanisms or rewards for fostering and implementing interdisciplinary collaboration. In addition to these shortcomings, researchers are discouraged from working with diverse contributions, as evaluation systems also tend to undervalue them. According to Leydesdorff and Etzkowitz (1998), collaborations between industry, academia and government often put additional pressure on scientists to adhere to productivity benchmarks, which puts a premium on quick wins over interdisciplinary research.

This raises a number of questions, such as: Are researchers adequately encouraged to cross disciplinary boundaries and pursue interdisciplinary initiatives? To what extent do institutions encourage interdisciplinarity? Do researchers receive adequate rewards for pursuing such initiatives?

1.1. Definition and Conceptual Frameworks

The evolution of methodologies is linked to the problems faced by society and their complexity over time. Today, three main frameworks involving several specialised disciplines are known: multidisciplinarity, interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity. Focusing on interdisciplinarity, it is based on the principle of the interconnectedness of reality; in other words, it is based on the idea that everything is connected. This discipline arises from the fact that it is becoming increasingly clear that one discipline alone is not enough to understand and solve complex problems. The combination of two or more disciplines working collaboratively to address a particular issue, topic or question is known as interdisciplinarity.

Multidisciplinarity, on the other hand, is based on several disciplines working in parallel to address a problem, each discipline contributing its perspective and knowledge, but without integrating with the others.

Finally, transdisciplinarity goes beyond disciplines, integrating knowledge from different fields, including non-academic fields. There are two main understandings about 'transdisciplinarity'. In one of them, it is understood as the integration of diverse research and knowledge forms, including know-how knowledge. In the other, transdisciplinarity means going beyond disciplinary knowledge, adopting an holistic view that is shared to all the parts summoned.

In contrast to multidisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity, interdisciplinarity is based on disciplines from different fields working together in an integrated way, combining methods, concepts and theories to provide a holistic view of the problem -thought not as integrated as in the second understanding of transdisciplinarity. An important and also distinctive aspect of this framework is that it brings together different elements and ideas in a simple way in order to better understand and address an issue. It not only connects disciplines, but also generates new ideas and approaches that are impossible to develop from one area alone (Guikema & Peak, 2021).

This method of discipline has become more popular, especially in scientific areas where teamwork is key to solving complex problems, such as environmental and health care. (Klein, 2023). With the evolution of interdisciplinarity, complex societal challenges such as climate and social change have been addressed with solutions that go beyond individual disciplines (Trundle & Phillips, 2023).

These cross-disciplinary collaborations help to improve problem solving and foster innovative solutions, as experts from different areas complement each other's knowledge to better address difficult problems. Combining knowledge from several disciplines to address common problems also means preserving the boundaries between disciplines (Posselt & Nuñez, 2022).

2. The Advantages of Interdisciplinarity

While multidisciplinarity brings diversity of approaches without mixing disciplines, and transdisciplinarity merges knowledge to create new paradigms, in the case of interdisciplinarity, it has several advantages, especially when dealing with complicated issues that require a variety of viewpoints. It fosters creativity, innovation and effective problem solving by using a variety of expertise.

2.1. Increase Creativity and Innovation

The use of interdisciplinarity has the greatest benefit in terms of innovation and creativity, which is the result of combining knowledge. A practical example of this would be health research, which benefits from combining medicine and sociology to address issues such as chronic diseases. On the other hand, issues such as climate change, a complex issue in environmental science, benefit from combining knowledge from engineering, biology and social sciences. As several studies have shown, interdisciplinary teams are highly successful in creating breakthrough inventions because they combine different ideas to find innovative solutions (Repko & Szostak, 2020).

2.2. Effective Problem Solving

With the use of this discipline it is possible to solve complicated problems using knowledge from several disciplines. For example, when discussing climate change, knowledge of public policy, economics and climatology is necessary, thus taking into account the sustainable, economic and social point of view. According to Newell (2007) and Klein (1990), collaboration between integrated disciplines improves decision-making and problem-solving by interpreting the problem comprehensively with different knowledge.

2.3. Learning and knowledge sharing

Interdisciplinary studies assist in learning and information sharing across disciplines. Thanks to this cooperative practice, researchers can learn more skills, which allows them to adapt better to the project and have more opportunities in their career. In addition, breakthroughs in solving problems are brought about by new ideas arising from the sharing of tools and data. As Wenger (1998) explains, this type of collaboration helps all members learn, grow and develop their skills together, thus enhancing their professional identity.

3. The Challenges of Interdisciplinarity

Although disciplines have many advantages, they also present challenges or drawbacks. In the case of multidisciplinarity, it can lead to a lack of integration between disciplines, however, focusing on our main topic, interdisciplinarity presents several drawbacks which can complicate its application.

Differences in communication, institutional structures and lack of resources are often some of these challenges. In order to make interdisciplinary progress and collaboration as effective as possible, all these challenges or drawbacks need to be recognised and acted upon.

3.1. Communication and Collaboration Issues

The essential element for any collaboration is communication, which is also often presented as one of the main problems. In each field of study, researchers use their own terms, methods and theories, which in carrying out a collaborative project can lead to misunderstandings because they do not understand each other, and this can slow down the progress of the research.

In addition to terminology problems, as Cummings and Kiesler (2005) argue, interdisciplinary teams can have coordination problems, when members have little or no previous experience of working in groups or when their communication styles are very different.

These difficulties in teamwork need to be recognised and addressed, as interdisciplinary cooperation is essential to address many of today's problems. To this end, O'Rourke, Crowley and Gonnerman (2016) show how important it is to make an active effort to find common ground, such as common knowledge, in order to increase mutual understanding.

In conclusion, interdisciplinary teams are mostly affected by the barrier of communication, coordination and understanding. To overcome these barriers and ensure effective integration of knowledge, team members need to establish norms and a common language or common ground.

3.2. Institutional and Structural Barriers

Institutions and their structures are another major challenge to interdisciplinarity, as most organisations are organised and structured in a way that prevents interdisciplinarity or collaboration between different disciplines. In this respect, Rhoten and Parker (2004) mention that institutions often express doubts about this methodology, which may discourage researchers from starting projects using this collaborative methodology.

In terms of evaluation criteria, there can also be major challenges, as the use of traditional disciplines and their results are often rewarded more highly, thus undervaluing interdisciplinarity. This can make it more difficult for scientists to obtain financial support. According to Jacobs and Frickel (2009), these structural barriers limit opportunities for collaboration and creativity by rewarding a culture that devalues interdisciplinary work.

In simple terms, today's institutions and structures cause disciplines to work autonomously, without any integration or collaboration between them. To change this, it is necessary to adjust evaluation criteria and create programmes that encourage collaboration between different areas.

3.3. Resource and Time Limitations

Interdisciplinary research requires a big amount of time and a big range of resources. Effective coordination requires time for meetings, discussions and clarification of objectives, so that the research can progress.

In addition, the lack of resources, the need for specialised teams and access to services from different disciplines is another major challenge. Within these resource constraints, the main lack of resources comes from funding. On financial issues according to Bromham, Dinnage and Hua (2016), interdisciplinary research tends to have lower funding than other methodologies, which largely discourages researchers from working on such initiatives.

In conclusion, the effectiveness of interdisciplinary research is affected by time and resource limitations. In order to overcome these problems, institutional support, time and resources such as project funding are required.

4. Strategies For An Effective Interdisciplinary Work

To combine and integrate knowledge, interdisciplinarity requires time and resources for careful planning and values such as partnership and respect for teamwork. Although obstacles may appear along the way, the existence of clear objectives, the formation of an effective team and the use of adequate time and resources provide great opportunities for innovation and evolution.

By making use of the following strategies, the research creates structures with which to overcome barriers or obstacles and opens the way to solve complex problems.

4.1. Establishing Clear Goals

The first step in any research project is to establish clear goals and objectives, and in the case of interdisciplinary projects it is of no exception, this is of vital importance as problems and misunderstandings can more easily arise when several disciplines are involved. By making use of these, it ensures that all members of the interdisciplinary team share and understand the objective and goals. According to Klein (2017), having a common goal is essential to bridge disciplinary gaps and unite different points of view.

In order to establish objectives and goals, there must be a choice of research topic beforehand, chosen by consensus among all participants, which should be in line with the main objectives of the project. In addition to this, it is essential to distribute roles and responsibilities within the team, thus avoiding possible conflicts that may arise and clarifying expectations. Also, the creation of deadlines, in order to be able to continuously monitor the process and make sure that it is successful.

Setting clear objectives not only helps the project but also increases productivity, trust and group cohesion. As Bruce et al. (2004) explain, this method encourages teamwork and helps to maintain concentration.

4.2. Building Effective Teams

Creating a team in which there are different areas of expertise is crucial, as a great aspect of interdisciplinarity is precisely that it relies on the diversity of its teams. In this team building, not only experts in different disciplines are taken into account but also individuals with adequate organisational and communication skills in order to increase the effectiveness of the team. Values such as trust and mutual respect are also of great importance.

To ensure that the team works well and creates a favourable environment to work in, group activities could be of great help, expressing what is valued and expected. On the other hand, another important figure when working in a team is the leader. Bennett and Gadlin (2012) highlight the importance of leadership in creating a welcoming environment where each team member is treated with respect and where open communication is encouraged and everyone's opinions are heard.

In summary, to ensure the success of an interdisciplinary team, diversity of knowledge and good relationships are necessary. For this and to ensure teamwork and conflict resolution it is key to have a good leader and trust and respect in the group.

4.3. Making Use of Technologies

Technological advances have changed the way interdisciplinary research is conducted. Collaborative platforms, such as shared workspaces, enable fluid communication between team members, even those in different locations. This has made it easier for researchers to collaborate and share information in real time from anywhere (Nielsen, M., 2011).

Electronic structures help interdisciplinary work by providing access to data and resources. Thus eliminating or minimising technical limitations, and enabling researchers to carry out their work better. However, these technologies also have their complications, which is why they should be accompanied by adequate training to ensure that all team members can use them effectively.

In conclusion, new technologies facilitate data exchange and communication, increasing the efficiency and accessibility of interdisciplinary studies. When used strategically, technology can improve both the efficiency and depth of projects.

4.4. Securing Institutional Support

Institutional support is essential for interdisciplinary research. Institutions play an important role in interdisciplinarity by supporting it, disseminating it and backing it up with regulations or laws. Guston (2001) highlights institutions as a mechanism or aid for dealing with and resolving conflicts between disciplines. In addition to these institutions, it is important to consider evaluation criteria, which today devalue interdisciplinarity.

Institutions are also part of the funding of projects where major problems often arise. As the National Academy of Sciences (2004) points out, funding and creating interdisciplinary projects helps to foster interdisciplinarity in society.  Furthermore, if institutions succeed in fostering a culture that values this methodology, it would create an environment where interdisciplinary research is not only possible, but encouraged.

In summary, institutional support is key to promoting interdisciplinary research. These institutions are involved in the funding and creation of interdisciplinary research and the adaptation of evaluation criteria to value this type of work.

5. Conclusion

In order to tackle complicated problems in today's society, interdisciplinarity has become a key methodology. Thanks to this methodology, we can achieve a holistic approach to the problem, i.e. we can see and understand the problem in its entirety by combining methods, techniques, knowledge and perspectives from different disciplines, which create innovative and evolutionary solutions.

Using this methodology, major challenges such as climate change and public health have been approached, which shows the great importance of the existence and use of this methodology to understand the interconnected systems that take part in these issues. Continuing on this theme, Frodeman, Klein and Mitcham (2010) argue that collaboration between disciplines is vital, in order to fill knowledge gaps and to create innovative, useful and sustainable solutions in the context of each issue from this knowledge.

However, achieving an effective interdisciplinary collaboration is not as easy as it seems to be. Many problems can occur during the process, starting with communication problems that arise from using different terminologies and technicalities from their own fields of study.  Institutions also play an important role, rewarding traditional methodologies, which can make working collaboratively more difficult.

To overcome possible obstacles or barriers, there are many strategies. Tress, Tress and Fry (2005) stress that for interdisciplinary research to work effectively and well, it is necessary to develop common grounds and clear rules for working together, as well as to share roles and obligations. This helps to build understanding of the members and the project and to share values such as respect and productivity.

For interdisciplinarity to be as effective as possible, positive and appropriate environments need to be formed for working together with different areas of study. Institutions must also recognise and make changes in their forms of evaluation, valuing and rewarding the use of interdisciplinarity, which often tends to be devalued and marginalised.

On the other hand, the use of new technologies has revolutionised the way we work in different methodologies. They provide us with access to data or services where we used to find limitations and help us to communicate more easily as we can make use of them from anywhere and at any time. Thanks to these and to the promotion and teaching of interdisciplinary work, future researchers can develop skills with which to work effectively and productively across disciplinary boundaries.

Finally, interdisciplinarity plays a crucial role in developing sustainable, equitable and innovative solutions to the increasingly complex global challenges we face. By removing barriers, fostering cooperation and utilising a range of competences, we can build as a society a future where knowledge is combined to solve the most important problems facing humanity. This approach not only improves our ability to solve problems, but also strengthens the foundations for future generations of research and innovation.