how disciplines differ

23
How Disciplines Differ Desmond McNeill

Upload: thelma

Post on 24-Feb-2016

45 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

DESCRIPTION

How Disciplines Differ. Desmond McNeill. What is interdisciplinary research?. Multi-disciplinary : autonomy of the different disciplines; does not lead to changes in the existing disciplinary and theoretical structures; - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: How Disciplines Differ

How Disciplines Differ

DesmondMcNeill

Page 2: How Disciplines Differ

What is interdisciplinary research?

• Multi-disciplinary: autonomy of the different disciplines; does not lead to changes in the existing disciplinary and theoretical structures;

• Inter-disciplinary: formulation of a uniform, discipline-transcending terminology or common methodology; cooperation within a common framework shared by the disciplines involved;

• Trans-disciplinary (also known as cross-disciplinary): research based on a common theoretical understanding and accompanied by a mutual interpenetration of disciplinary epistemologies.

Page 3: How Disciplines Differ

What is a discipline?Dictionary definition

“An academic discipline, or field of study, is a branch of knowledge which is taught or researched at the college or university level. Disciplines are defined and recognized by the academic journals in which research is published, and the learned societies and academic departments or faculties to which their practitioners belong.”

Page 4: How Disciplines Differ

Working definition:

A discipline is:

- A rigorous way of studying the world.

Page 5: How Disciplines Differ

 

• It is rigorous (‘disciplined’)

• It is one way of studying the world (there are many).

• It studies only one aspect, or part, of the world

Page 6: How Disciplines Differ

Objects of study

• Material things

• Living things

• Individual human beings

• Groups of human beings

Page 7: How Disciplines Differ

Ways of studying them

• Observation

• Experimentation

• Dissection/analysis

• ….

Page 8: How Disciplines Differ

Where they are studied

• Field

• Laboratory

• Desk

• ??

Page 9: How Disciplines Differ

Ways of presenting results

• Description (text)

• Measurement (numbers)

• Depiction (photos, pictures, maps)

•  ??

Page 10: How Disciplines Differ

Categories

The above processes (description, measurement) involve:

- Selection and, almost always,

- Classification.

Page 11: How Disciplines Differ

Categories

Zoology: 8 main taxonomic ranks: domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species.

Sociology, characteristics shared by members of a group may include interests, values, ethnic or social background, and kinship ties

Page 12: How Disciplines Differ

Even measurement usually involves classification.

In demography, ’total population’ is arguably based on a ‘natural’ distinction - between humans and non-humans.

But the division between children and adults is not purely ‘natural’.

Page 13: How Disciplines Differ

In most cases, classification is not ‘natural’, but ‘social’ i.e. dependent on the shared meanings of a group of people.

Such classifications vary across different societies, or over time within a society.

Page 14: How Disciplines Differ

The object of study: matter or meaning

• One may range disciplines across a spectrum:

• Physics – chemistry – economics – anthropology – literary studies

Page 15: How Disciplines Differ

’Materialist’ approaches (emphasis on matter/individual agent)

Nature Physics Body Chemistry Mind Biochemistry Society economics

Page 16: How Disciplines Differ

’Social’ approaches (emphasis on meaning/structure)

Society Anthropology/sociology Mind Psychology Body Gender studies Nature Environmental philosophy

Page 17: How Disciplines Differ

NATURAL SCIENCES HUMAN SCIENCES

Phenomenon being Studied*

Explanation Explanation / Interpretation (thin description) (thin/thick description) Reductionist Holist Agent Structure (physics) (ecology) (economics) (anthropology) Laboratory Field ….. Field (Where) Quantitative Qualitative Quantitative Qualitative (How) (Predominant

method)

* e.g a rainbow, a wink, a factory

Page 18: How Disciplines Differ

Perspectives: ways of seeing

• There is a close relationship between the object of study and the way that object is perceived.

 • One major contrast is between

reductionist and holist perspectives.

Page 19: How Disciplines Differ

Contrasts

• Quantitative/qualitative • Entities/relations • Generalisation/context

• Analytic/synthetic

Page 20: How Disciplines Differ

Intellectual rigour

What constitutes rigour is decided by those who practice the discipline.

• Within a discipline, there is generally strong agreement as to what constitutes rigour.

• Between disciplines, there is often strong disagreement.

Page 21: How Disciplines Differ

Why do research?

 • Intrinsic reasons

• Instrumental reasons

Page 22: How Disciplines Differ

Why do interdisciplinary research?

 • Intrinsic reasons

• Instrumental reasons

Page 23: How Disciplines Differ

What is an appropriate level of ambition?

• Multi-disciplinary: for policy-oriented research

• Inter-disciplinary: for more basic research

• Trans-disciplinary: not possible to achieve?