Interdisciplinary Research : Process and Theory

First published in 2008, this book was hailed as the only comprehensive and systematic presentation of the interdisciplinary research process and the theory that informs it. This revised and expanded Second Edition reflects the burgeoning interest in, and substantial research on, all aspects of interdisciplinarity since then. Its key contribution is a more complete treatment of integration, particularly how to integrate insights from diverse perspectives.

Allen F. Repko provides an easy-to-follow decision-making process, highlighting the foundational and complementary role of the disciplines in interdisciplinary work. He includes numerous examples from the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and applied fields to illustrate how to create common ground and how to construct a more comprehensive interdisciplinary understanding and reflect on, test, and communicate it. The book is ideally suited for active learning and problem-based pedagogical approaches as well as for team teaching and other more traditional strategies.

Allen F. Repko, PhD, is the former director of the interdisciplinary studies program in the School of Urban and Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Arlington, where he developed and taught the program’s core curriculum for many years. The program is one of the largest in the United States. Repko has written extensively on all aspects of interdisciplinary studies, has twice served as coeditor of the interdisciplinary journal Issues in Integrative Studies, and has served on the board of the Association for Interdisciplinary Studies (AIS).