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Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies
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Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies

Fourth Edition
January 2025 | 400 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
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This book provides instructors and students in entry-level interdisciplinary courses and thematic programs with a comprehensive introduction to interdisciplinary studies. Authors Allen F. Repko, Rick Szostak, and Michelle Phillips Buchberger introduce students to the cognitive process that interdisciplinarians use to approach complex problems and eventually arrive at more comprehensive understandings of them. Students learn how to think like interdisciplinarians, understand interdisciplinary processes, and assess the quality of their own work. Changes to the Fourth Edition include revised content on epistemology and methods, more on integrative strategies, reordering of some chapters, new assignment ideas, and new examples which include student examples and insights from the latest scholarly works.
 
Preface
 
About the Authors
 
Part I: Understanding Interdisciplinary Studies
 
Chapter 1: Interdisciplinary Studies in the Real World
Why Interdisciplinary Studies Matters

 
What Is Driving Interdisciplinary Studies Today?

 
The Academic Benefits of Pursuing an Interdisciplinary Studies Degree

 
Interdisciplinary Studies and Your Career Development

 
A Threaded Example: Basic Income

 
Critical Thinking Questions

 
Applications and Exercises

 
 
Chapter 2: The Rise of the Modern Disciplines and Interdisciplinarity
Why the Past Matters

 
The Rise of the Modern Disciplines

 
The Rise of Interdisciplinarity

 
Interdisciplinarity’s Criticism of the Disciplines

 
Revisiting the Basic Income

 
Critical Thinking Questions

 
Applications and Exercises

 
 
Chapter 3: Interdisciplinary Studies Defined
Why Definitions Matter

 
Defining Interdisciplinary Studies

 
Differences Between Disciplinarity, Multidisciplinarity, Interdisciplinarity, and Transdisciplinarity

 
Two Conceptions of Interdisciplinarity

 
Useful Metaphors of Interdisciplinary Studies

 
Basic Income Revisited

 
Critical Thinking Questions

 
Applications and Exercises

 
 
Chapter 4: Academic Disciplines
Disciplines and Disciplinarity Defined

 
The Epistemic, Social, and Organizational Dimensions of Disciplines

 
The Concept of Disciplinary Perspective

 
The Defining Elements of a Discipline

 
Typical Methods

 
Disciplinary Perspective and Basic Income

 
Critical Thinking Questions

 
Applications and Exercises

 
 
Chapter 5: The Intellectual Essence of Interdisciplinary Studies
Assumptions of Interdisciplinary Studies

 
Theories Supportive of Interdisciplinary Studies

 
Epistemology of Interdisciplinary Studies

 
How Interdisciplinary Studies “Sees”

 
Reflections on Basic Income

 
Critical Thinking Questions

 
Applications and Exercises

 
 
Part II: Thinking Critically About Interdisciplinary Studies
 
Chapter 6: The Interdisciplinary Studies “Cognitive Toolkit”
How She Did It

 
Intellectual Capacities

 
Values

 
Traits

 
Skills

 
Ethical Analysis

 
Ways to Apply Your Interdisciplinary “Toolkit”

 
Basic Income

 
A Recommended Assignment

 
Critical Thinking Questions

 
Applications and Exercises

 
 
Chapter 7: Thinking Critically About Disciplinary Perspectives
What It Means to Think Critically About Disciplinary Perspectives

 
Developing a Sophisticated Conception of Knowledge

 
Why Interrogate Disciplinary Perspectives (or Practice Critical Pluralism)

 
How Interdisciplinarians Interrogate Disciplinary Perspectives

 
Basic Income

 
Critical Thinking Scenario

 
Critical Thinking Questions

 
Applications and Exercises

 
 
Chapter 8: Thinking Critically About Disciplinary Insights
Critical Thinking Attitudes

 
Categories of Statements

 
Critically Analyzing Disciplinary Insights

 
Critical Thinking About Basic Income

 
Critical Thinking Questions

 
Applications and Exercises

 
 
Chapter 9: Thinking Critically About Integration and Its Results
Three Alternative Approaches to Interdisciplinary Integration

 
The Broad Model Approach to Integration

 
The Result of Integration

 
Reflecting on What Was Achieved

 
Integration and Basic Income

 
Critical Thinking Scenario

 
Critical Thinking Questions

 
Applications and Exercises

 
 
Part III: Interdisciplinary Research and Writing
 
Chapter 10: An Interdisciplinary Research “Road Map”
The Power and Usefulness of Research

 
Disciplinary and Interdisciplinary Approaches to Research

 
The Broad Model of the Interdisciplinary Research Process

 
STEP 1: Define the Problem or State the Research Question

 
STEP 2: Justify Using an Interdisciplinary Approach

 
Critical Thinking Questions

 
Applications and Exercises

 
 
Chapter 11: Identifying Relevant Disciplines and Gathering Information About the Problem
STEP 3: Identify Relevant Disciplines

 
STEP 4: Conduct a Literature Search

 
The Broad Model Rubric Applied to STEPS 3 and 4

 
Investigating Basic Income

 
Critical Thinking Questions

 
Critical Thinking Scenario

 
 
Chapter 12: Analyzing Insights and Reflecting on Process
Step 5: Critically Analyze the Disciplinary Insights Into the Problem

 
STEP 6: Reflect on How an Interdisciplinary Approach Has Enlarged Your Understanding of the Problem

 
Basic Income Revisited

 
Conclusion

 
Critical Thinking Questions

 
 
Appendix A Intellectual Autobiography
 
Appendix B Student Portfolios, Blogging, and Vlogging
 
Appendix C Service Learning, Internships, and Alternative Projects for Nontraditional Students
 
Appendix D The Broad Model Rubric: Instructor Version and Sample Student Outline
 
Appendix E Answer Key
 
Glossary of Key Terms
 
References
Key features
NEW TO THIS EDITION:
  • Chapters 4–6 have been reorganized for better flow.
  • A fresh assignment kicks off in Chapter 1 and circles back in Chapter 6, keeping students engaged.
  • Chapter 2 introduces new Boxes about History and Art Therapy to enrich learning.
  • Chapter 3 now offers a refreshed take on critical interdisciplinarity.
  • Dive into a revamped discussion of epistemology in Chapter 4, seamlessly integrating assumptions.
  • Chapter 5 expands on cross-cultural understanding and tackles political polarization, plus a new section on interdisciplinary teaching.
  • Chapter 6 features a dynamic "elevator pitch" assignment and deeper insights into metacognition and ethics.
  • Chapter 7 aligns with program needs by updating research question strategies and examples.
  • Chapter 8 includes a new mapping exercise and discussion of AI.
  • Chapter 9 extends the discussion of integrative strategies and includes fresh student examples.
  • Chapter 10 provides guidance on crafting solid research questions with added examples.
  • The authors added a new Box on Information Literacy in Chapter 12.
  • More examples throughout the text facilitate student learning.
  • Incorporates insights from recent scholarly works, keeping content current.
  • Comprehensive editing throughout brings improved clarity and narrative flow.
KEY FEATURES:
  • The book creatively uses a variety of visual aids—graphics, figures, tables, cartoons, and photographs—and other devices to make complex and unfamiliar concepts clear and understandable.
  • To engage students practically, the book presents examples of professional and student work, pictures, and stories (such as the fable of the elephant house) that are woven into the narrative.
  • To engage students cognitively, the book includes in-text "Challenge Questions" and end-of-chapter "Critical Thinking Questions," "Applications and Exercises," "Case Studies," and other active learning devices.
  • To overcome possible student and parental apprehension about the marketability of an interdisciplinary program or degree, Chapter 1 discusses factors that are propelling and sustaining interdisciplinarity as a mode of learning.
  • To overcome student difficulty in articulating what interdisciplinarity is, Chapter 3 presents an easy-to-understand definition of interdisciplinary studies that will enable them to explain this often misunderstood concept to parents, friends, and prospective employers.
  • Chapter 6 identifies the abilities, values, skills, and traits that interdisciplinarity fosters.
  • The book introduces students to the "Broad Model," which presents an easy-to-follow step-by-step approach to the interdisciplinary research process that emphasizes the importance of personal reflection on each STEP taken.
  • To meet the need of students whose instructors require an interdisciplinary product or paper, the last three chapters of the book present easy-to-follow STEPS that are applicable to a variety of group or individual projects.

Sample Materials & Chapters

Repko_et_al_4e_01

Repko_et_al_4e_02

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