Defining Terms for Integrated (Multi-Inter-Trans-Disciplinary) Sustainability Research
Our contemporary social and ecological problems, including climate change, peak oil and food security, necessitate solutions informed by multiple backgrounds that singular disciplines seem unable to provide, and possibly, are even incapable of providing. The increasing occurrence of multi-, inter- a...
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doaj-a5b113be90b642339206161fbf3b3a072020-11-24T23:55:00ZengMDPI AGSustainability2071-10502011-07-01381090111310.3390/su3081090Defining Terms for Integrated (Multi-Inter-Trans-Disciplinary) Sustainability ResearchRob J.F. BurtonPaul StockOur contemporary social and ecological problems, including climate change, peak oil and food security, necessitate solutions informed by multiple backgrounds that singular disciplines seem unable to provide, and possibly, are even incapable of providing. The increasing occurrence of multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary (MIT) research projects speak to the recognition of that necessity. But as the literature and our own experiences bear out, just calling a project “beyond disciplinary” or integrated does not necessarily yield the intended outcomes or make progress toward alleviating the hurdles of bridging disciplines. Here we examine the distinctions between three categories (multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary) of integrated research and offer reflections on how sustainability researchers can categorize their research to improve common understandings.http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/3/8/1090/transdisciplinarysustainabilitymultidisciplinaryinterdisciplinaryintegrated researchresearch projectmethods |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Rob J.F. Burton Paul Stock |
spellingShingle |
Rob J.F. Burton Paul Stock Defining Terms for Integrated (Multi-Inter-Trans-Disciplinary) Sustainability Research Sustainability transdisciplinary sustainability multidisciplinary interdisciplinary integrated research research project methods |
author_facet |
Rob J.F. Burton Paul Stock |
author_sort |
Rob J.F. Burton |
title |
Defining Terms for Integrated (Multi-Inter-Trans-Disciplinary) Sustainability Research |
title_short |
Defining Terms for Integrated (Multi-Inter-Trans-Disciplinary) Sustainability Research |
title_full |
Defining Terms for Integrated (Multi-Inter-Trans-Disciplinary) Sustainability Research |
title_fullStr |
Defining Terms for Integrated (Multi-Inter-Trans-Disciplinary) Sustainability Research |
title_full_unstemmed |
Defining Terms for Integrated (Multi-Inter-Trans-Disciplinary) Sustainability Research |
title_sort |
defining terms for integrated (multi-inter-trans-disciplinary) sustainability research |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Sustainability |
issn |
2071-1050 |
publishDate |
2011-07-01 |
description |
Our contemporary social and ecological problems, including climate change, peak oil and food security, necessitate solutions informed by multiple backgrounds that singular disciplines seem unable to provide, and possibly, are even incapable of providing. The increasing occurrence of multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary (MIT) research projects speak to the recognition of that necessity. But as the literature and our own experiences bear out, just calling a project “beyond disciplinary” or integrated does not necessarily yield the intended outcomes or make progress toward alleviating the hurdles of bridging disciplines. Here we examine the distinctions between three categories (multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary) of integrated research and offer reflections on how sustainability researchers can categorize their research to improve common understandings. |
topic |
transdisciplinary sustainability multidisciplinary interdisciplinary integrated research research project methods |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/3/8/1090/ |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT robjfburton definingtermsforintegratedmultiintertransdisciplinarysustainabilityresearch AT paulstock definingtermsforintegratedmultiintertransdisciplinarysustainabilityresearch |
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