TY - JOUR
T1 - Thinking about knowing
T2 - Conceptual foundations for interdisciplinary environmental research
AU - Khagram, Sanjeev
AU - Nicholas, Kimberly A.
AU - Bever, Dena Macmynowski
AU - Warren, Justin
AU - Richards, Elizabeth H.
AU - Oleson, Kirsten
AU - Kitzes, Justin
AU - Katz, Rebecca
AU - Hwang, Rebeca
AU - Goldman, Rebecca
AU - Funk, Jason
AU - Brauman, Kate A.
PY - 2010/12
Y1 - 2010/12
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - environment and security
KW - environmental studies
KW - epistemology
KW - interdisciplinary research
KW - philosophy of science
KW - research methods
KW - sustainability science
KW - theory development
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79951751585&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=79951751585&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S0376892910000809
DO - 10.1017/S0376892910000809
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:79951751585
SN - 0376-8929
VL - 37
SP - 388
EP - 397
JO - Environmental Conservation
JF - Environmental Conservation
IS - 4
ER -
