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Thinking about knowing: conceptual foundations for interdisciplinary environmental research

Khagram, Sanjeev ; Nicholas, Kimberly LU orcid ; Bever, Dena Macmynowski ; Warren, Justin ; Richards, Elizabeth H. ; Oleson, Kirsten ; Kitzes, Justin ; Katz, Rebecca ; Hwang, Rebeca and Goldman, Rebecca , et al. (2010) In Environmental Conservation 37(4). p.388-397
Abstract
Working across knowledge-based research programmes, rather than institutional structures, should be central to interdisciplinary research. In this paper, a novel framework is proposed to facilitate interdisciplinary research, with the goals of promoting communication, understanding and collaborative work. Three core elements need to be addressed to improve interdisciplinary research: the types (forms and functions) of theories, the underlying philosophies of knowledge and the combination of research styles; these three elements combine to form the research programme. Case studies from sustainability science and environmental security illustrate the application of this research programme-based framework. This framework may be helpful in... (More)
Working across knowledge-based research programmes, rather than institutional structures, should be central to interdisciplinary research. In this paper, a novel framework is proposed to facilitate interdisciplinary research, with the goals of promoting communication, understanding and collaborative work. Three core elements need to be addressed to improve interdisciplinary research: the types (forms and functions) of theories, the underlying philosophies of knowledge and the combination of research styles; these three elements combine to form the research programme. Case studies from sustainability science and environmental security illustrate the application of this research programme-based framework. This framework may be helpful in overcoming often oversimplified distinctions, such as qualitative/quantitative, deductive/inductive, normative/descriptive, subjective/objective and theory/practice. Applying this conceptual framework to interdisciplinary research should foster theoretical advances, more effective communication and better problem-solving in increasingly interdisciplinary environmental fields. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
theory development, sustainability science, research methods, philosophy of science, interdisciplinary research, epistemology, environment and security, environmental studies
in
Environmental Conservation
volume
37
issue
4
pages
388 - 397
publisher
Cambridge University Press
external identifiers
  • wos:000285466300004
  • scopus:79951751585
ISSN
0376-8929
DOI
10.1017/S0376892910000809
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
03f9fc1b-7f85-446c-862b-ed15efca2d25 (old id 1772309)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 10:53:16
date last changed
2022-01-26 03:29:01
@article{03f9fc1b-7f85-446c-862b-ed15efca2d25,
  abstract     = {{Working across knowledge-based research programmes, rather than institutional structures, should be central to interdisciplinary research. In this paper, a novel framework is proposed to facilitate interdisciplinary research, with the goals of promoting communication, understanding and collaborative work. Three core elements need to be addressed to improve interdisciplinary research: the types (forms and functions) of theories, the underlying philosophies of knowledge and the combination of research styles; these three elements combine to form the research programme. Case studies from sustainability science and environmental security illustrate the application of this research programme-based framework. This framework may be helpful in overcoming often oversimplified distinctions, such as qualitative/quantitative, deductive/inductive, normative/descriptive, subjective/objective and theory/practice. Applying this conceptual framework to interdisciplinary research should foster theoretical advances, more effective communication and better problem-solving in increasingly interdisciplinary environmental fields.}},
  author       = {{Khagram, Sanjeev and Nicholas, Kimberly and Bever, Dena Macmynowski and Warren, Justin and Richards, Elizabeth H. and Oleson, Kirsten and Kitzes, Justin and Katz, Rebecca and Hwang, Rebeca and Goldman, Rebecca and Funk, Jason and Brauman, Kate A.}},
  issn         = {{0376-8929}},
  keywords     = {{theory development; sustainability science; research methods; philosophy of science; interdisciplinary research; epistemology; environment and security; environmental studies}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{388--397}},
  publisher    = {{Cambridge University Press}},
  series       = {{Environmental Conservation}},
  title        = {{Thinking about knowing: conceptual foundations for interdisciplinary environmental research}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0376892910000809}},
  doi          = {{10.1017/S0376892910000809}},
  volume       = {{37}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}