Katie Overy

Interdisciplinarity

What’s here?

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Approx. 30 hours of learning materials

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The resources included here are organised according to publication type. Take the time to browse different formats and different authors, before choosing where to focus your reading time.

This collection of readings introduces the conceptual foundations and practical approaches to interdisciplinarity, with a progression from definitions and histories to measurement, application, and strategy. Moran’s Interdisciplinarity offers an accessible, humanities-oriented overview of how disciplines intersect and evolve, setting the stage for broader debates. Frodeman’s Oxford Handbook of Interdisciplinarity and Lawrence’s Handbook of Transdisciplinarity expand that foundation: the former maps the intellectual terrain and methods across fields, while the latter pushes beyond academic integration to transdisciplinary co-production with societal stakeholders—highlighting global and policy-relevant perspectives. Keestra, Uilhoorn, and Zandveld’s An Introduction to Interdisciplinary Research complements these handbooks with a practical, step-by-step guide to designing and conducting IDR projects (problem framing, team processes, integrative methods).

The journal Interdisciplinary Science Reviews provides ongoing engagement with debates and case studies that test and refine these frameworks. The Choi & Pak trilogy anchors the health domain: it distinguishes multidisciplinarity, interdisciplinarity, and transdisciplinarity; reviews evidence of effectiveness; and explores promoters, barriers, and selection strategies—useful for translating concepts into policy, education, and services.

Finally, Huutoniemi et al. offer a typology and indicators for analyzing interdisciplinarity, moving from normative claims to measurable dimensions (types of integration, collaboration modes, and evaluation criteria). Together, the set equips readers to (1) grasp key distinctions (MD/ID/TD), (2) design and manage integrative projects, and (3) assess the quality and impact of interdisciplinary work across contexts.

Books

Frodeman, R. (2017). The Oxford Handbook of Interdisciplinarity (2nd edition). Oxford University Press

Keestra, M., Uilhoorn, A., & Zandveld, J. (2022). An introduction to interdisciplinary research. Routledge.

Lawrence, R. J. (Ed.). (2023). Handbook of transdisciplinarity: Global perspectives. Edward Elgar Publishing.

Moran, J. (2010). Interdisciplinarity (2nd edition). Routledge.

Journal

**Interdisciplinary Science Reviews**

Journal Articles

Aboelela, S. W., Larson, E., Bakken, S., Carrasquillo, O., Formicola, A., Glied, S. A., ... & Gebbie, K. M. (2007). Defining interdisciplinary research: Conclusions from a critical review of the literature. Health services research, 42(1p1), 329-346.

Choi, B. C., & Pak, A. W. (2006). Multidisciplinarity, interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity in health research, services, education and policy: 1. Definitions, objectives, and evidence of effectiveness. Clinical & Investigative Medicine, 29(6).

Choi, B. C., & Pak, A. W. (2007). Multidisciplinarity, interdisciplinarity, and transdisciplinarity in health research, services, education and policy: 2. Promotors, barriers, and strategies of enhancement. Clinical and Investigative Medicine, 30(6), E224-E232.