Interdisciplinary research for international publication

Melani Budianta

Universitas Indonesia

Definitions

• Multidisciplinary: Relating or making use of a number of disciplines

• Crossdisciplinary: coordinated effort involving more than one discipline

• Transdisciplinary: Approaches that transcend boundaries of conventional discipline

• Interdisciplinary: The process of combining two or more disciplines, fields of studies, professions

• Source:Salmons and Wilson,2007, www.vision2lead.com

MULTIDISCIPLINARYRESEARCH

DISCIPLINE A

DISCIPLINE B

DISCIPLINE C

DISCIPLINE A

DISCIPLINE C

INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH

DISCIPLINE B

Transdisciplinary Theory

Discipline A

Discipline B

Discipline C

THEORY X

CROSS-DISCIPLINARY PROJECT

Common project

Discipline ADiscipline B

Discipline C

Examples (1)• A research on Lapindo case, involving the following

disciplines: - geology and mining to understand the cause of mud spill - political economy to discuss the way the company

operate and make use of power/politics in dealing with the problem

- Law to examine legal aspect of the problem- Sociology to adress social issue of corruption, social

displacement, conflict and resistance- Social psychology to study the social trauma and impact

of the disaster- Medicine to study the impact of the mud spill exposure to

health (health hazards). Other disciplines?

Example (2)

• Theory of evolution:- Biology - Sociology (social Darwinism)- Politics

• Structuralism- Linguistics- Anthropology- Literature, cultural studies

Example (3)

• Department of Architecture and Literary Studies hold biannual seminar on civic space

• Research the relations between technology and culture; between space (architecture) and life style of a social group; between literary representation and monetary system.

Why interdisciplinary research? (1)

• Social problems are multi-dimensional, and requires an understanding beyond the confines of one discipline

• Interdisciplinary research has more impact as it reaches wider audience

• The nature of more advanced research is interdisciplinary (compare S1-S2-S3 level of research).

Why interdisciplinary research? (2)

• Interdisciplinary research is appealing for international funding and publication

• Interdisciplinary research collaboration opens up new perspectives (knowledge, training), sets up new network

• Interdisciplinary research moves researchers out of “territorial comfort zones”

Interdisciplinary research

• Individual researcher can do interdisciplinary research by incorporating concepts from other disciplines

• Collaborative research can be done by scholars from different discipline in dealing with one research problem.

Framework of interdisciplinary research

• Expand knowledge by engaging with other discipline(s) or concepts from other fields in order to understand problem from different perspectives

• Building a theoretical framework which allows the weaving of concepts from different disciplines to create new solution/approach to a problem

How to formulate interdisciplinary research problem?

• Identify one issue (research problem) of a multi-dimensional nature.

• Identify how the problem/issue was discussed by previous scholarship

• Examine the loopholes and shortcomings of previous scholarship.

• Find possibilities in dealing with the issue by reading across other disciplines.

• Discuss with scholars of other disciplines• Familiarize yourself with many theoretical framework –

from various fields.• Read journal articles of interdsiciplinary nature• Consider new perspective in dealing with the issue

Initiating collaborative research

• Start by formulating your research interest• Find collaborators in other institutions• Hold a workshop or small conference on the

topic, and invite your potential collaborators or• Join a conference with similar coverage/topic• Find collaborators through networking• Design the proposal together with your

collaborators.

Publishing interdisciplinary research

• Find journals with specific areas – which cover your interdisciplinary topic

• Today there are many journals with interdisciplinary coverage. Examples: Journals on diaspor/migration studies, Journals on public culture, journal on media and culture, area studies journal (Asian studies, Southeast Asian studies)

• Journals on specific disciplines also welcome interdisciplinary studies which expand their field

Publishing your article(1)

• Browse a number of issues of the journal: vision/mission, scope of interest, sample essays, editorial collectives

• Format your essay according to the style of the journal.

• Send and request confirmation of receipt.• Inquire after one month

Publishing your article (2)

• Present your article in an international conference which match the coverage of your topic.

• Proactively search publishing possibilities through networking with journal editors

- Ask for possibilities for special issue on the topic or independent article