Katie Overy

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Time: Approx. 70 hours of learning materials

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About these materials

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The study of music connects naturally with a range of disciplines, including acoustics, psychology, sociology, cognitive neuroscience, anthropology, history, political science, theatre studies - in fact most disciplines related to the study of the human perception, behaviour and society. Such different modes of enquiry have traditionally been pursued independently, establishing disciplinary-specific methodologies and communicated via disciplinary-specific academic societies, journals and conferences. However, there is currently increasing interest in finding new, innovative ways to work across disciplines, both to deepen understanding on particular topics (e.g. musical rhythm), and to address major ‘real-world’ issues, beyond a specific discipline (e.g. music in healthcare). As the variety of such research increases and diversifies, so does the thinking and terminology, including distinctions between interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary research approaches, and distinctions between technological and non-technological innovation.

The reading materials in this section are thus not desgned to be prescriptive or definitive on the topics of interdisciplinarity and innovation - rather, they are designed to stimulate your thinking about your own research, and to consider how your work might contribute to new approaches to specific topics, or indeed contribute to addressing challenging ‘real world’ issues, such as sustainable development.

Key Text: Philosophy of Interdisciplinarity. Studies in Science, Society and Sustainability

General Reading: Interdisciplinarity and Innovation

Music Research: Interdisciplinarity and Innovation


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Questions for reflection while reading:

  1. Is your own work interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, or transdisciplinary?
  2. Which disciplinary knowledge is foundational to your work?
  3. Does your methodology draw on more than one discipline?
  4. To which discipline(s) will your work add a contribution to knowledge?
  5. Which features of your work are innovative?
  6. Could your work contribute to a more sustainable future? </aside>