INTER-DISCIPLINARY RESEARCH

INTRODUCTION

n   Each social science is concerned with social relationships or human relationships.

n   These human relationships have multiple aspects of economic, social, political, psychological and anthropological.

n   Such social studies study people from a particular view point. E.g.., Economics studies the economic aspect of man.

n   Each social science has a method peculiar to it, which distinguishes it from other sciences.

n   Some social problems are such that they are connected with two or more than two social sciences.

n   The study of such problems, therefore requires the use of methods peculiar to several sciences.

n   This is known as Inter-disciplinary Approach.

DEFINITION

“Inter-Disciplinary Research (IDR) is a method of research by teams or individuals that integrates information, data, techniques, tools, perspectives, concepts, and/or theories from two or more discipline or bodies of specialized knowledge to advance fundamental understanding or to slove problems whose solutions are beyond the scope of a single discipline or area of research practice.”

CURRENT SITUATION

v  IDR is pluralistic in method and focus.

v  It may be conducted by individuals or groups and may be driven by scientific curiosity or practical needs.

v  Interdisciplinary thinking is rapidly becoming an integral feature of research as a result of powerful “Drivers”.

n   The success of IDR groups depends on institutional commitment and research leadership.

The Need of Inter-Disciplinary Research

n   These days one finds more and more use of interdisciplinary approach in social sciences.

n   In fact, some studies are not possible without such an approach

The following are the main reasons of the need of interdisciplinary research;-

1.   Mutual relationships of different sciences

2.   Imperfection of science

3.   Several aspects of social phenomenon

4.   Need of objectivity

1. Mutual relationships of different studies

·       Though each science is considered as distinct, most of the sciences are interconnected.

·       Such social sciences is directly or indirectly concerned with a man, it is obvious that they may be inter-related.

·       Therefore one science is bound to influence other sciences.

·       Hence the need of interdisciplinary approach is obvious.

2. Imperfection of science

n   No social science is complete or perfect.

n   E.g.., economics cannot solve all the social problems,  nor can medicine relieve all the tensions.

n   Each social science is concerned only with a limited aspect of study.

n   In order to study the total society one will have to take resources of  several sciences.

n   Therefore, the interdisciplinary approach is utilized in such case.

3. Several aspects of social phenomenon

n   Social phenomenon are complex, each social phenomenon has several aspects.

n   No social phenomenon can be completely free from external influences.

n   In such a situation, in order to know the social phenomenon, it is necessary to find out different factors determining them

n   To know all these factors inter-disciplinary approach is required.

4.Need of objectivity

n   In spite of all precautions it is difficult to claim objectivity in social sciences.

n    The need to increase objectivity requires that the same problems should be studied by various methods in various aspects.

n   For this interdisciplinary approach is required.

TYPES  OF INTER-DISCIPLINARY RESEARCH

1.   Inter-disciplinary approach coordinate various sciences.  A type of this method is such that in its social investigator himself conducts research and seeks help from other sciences wherever required.  This help is secured in the form of expert advice from the researchers of other sciences.

2.   In a different type of inter-disciplinary approach, different experts of different sciences conduct researchers in their own field.  They study a problem independently and themselves prepare plan of study in their own field.

3.   The third type is somewhat different from the two types.  In it, the investigators from the different sciences work in collaboration right from the beginning to the end. They work as members of a research group or team in which the functions are divided and every member is responsible to fulfill his own functions.

THE PROCESS OF INTER-DISCIPLINARY RESEARH

The main steps in the process of interdisciplinary research as follows;-

1.    Construction of the main plan of research

2.    Determination of required social science

3.    Determination of roles of different social science

4.    Coordination of results

1. Construction of the main plan of research

n   First of all, a chief committee for research is organized. The main functions of this committee is to determine the problem of research.

n   It delimits area of social science research and clearly defines its aims and objectives.

2.Determination of required social sciences

n        After the classification of their problem, field and aims and objectives of research, it is decided as to which science, the limits of their cooperation are fixed.

3. Determination of roles of different social sciences

n   After the determination of required sciences, the roles of different sciences are determined.

For e.g.., if a particular social research requires the collaboration of geography, then it is necessary to determine the role of each these social sciences in the particular social research.

4. Coordination of results

n    In interdisciplinary research, different scientists study a problem from their own view points and arrive at different conclusions.

n    These conclusions provide knowledge limited to a particular aspect of a social problem.

Therefore, in order to achieve an integral knowledge, of the problem the different conclusions must be coordinated.

PROBLEMS OF INTER-DISCIPLINARY RESEARCH

n         Different scientists may be called members of a group and apparently their relations are cooperative but in difficulties and problems in the utilization of interdisciplinary approach.

Some of the important are as follow;-

n    Considering one’s own social sciences as the best

n    Lack of team spirit

n    Difference in view point

n    Problems in the coordination of result

ADVANTAGES OF IDR

The advantages of this approach are mainly as follows;-

1.   Integral study

2.   Elimination of errors

3.   Objectivity

4.   Good will among different social sciences

1.Integral study

n   A particular science studies only a particular aspect of a social or economic problem.

n   The integral approach, on the other hand, leads to an integral part and total study.

n   Thus, it is particularly useful for a deep and all round study of a problem.

2.Elimination of errors

n   There is possibility of several errors in the study of a social problem in a particular science.

n   On the other hand, if the same problem is simultaneously studied in several sciences, the possibility of errors is diminishes.

3.Objectivity

n   Every scientist has his own prejudices which retard the objectivity of his study.

n   In interdisciplinary research, several scientists study as a team, which considerable diminishes and eliminated the influence of their personal prejudices, increasing objectivity of research thereby.

4.Goodwill among different social sciences

n   When several scientists work as members of a team, they come to realize the importance of other sciences.  Therefore interdisciplinary approach creates goodwill among the fields of different sciences.

DISADVANTAGES OF IDR

 

   IDR suffers from several disadvantages, of these the most important are as follows;-

1.   Limited utility

2.   Less organized and systematic

3.   More expensive

4.   Unreliable conclusions

1. Limited utility

n   The IDR approach is useful only in the study of some general and practical problems.

n   It is not utilized in the study of complex and theoretical problems.

n   Therefore, its utility is limited

2. More expensive

n   As this approach of study requires the services of several coming from different fields, it requires much more expenditure as compared to other methods.

3. Less organized and systematic

n   The study organized on the basis of inter-disciplinary approach is generally less organized and systematic than expected.

n   So that sometimes the study becomes entirely out of control

4. Unreliable conclusions

n   As the function of coordination mostly done by one or more senior scientist, their prejudices and sense of superiority may be hindrances in the proper coordination or results.

n   Therefore, the conclusions reached by interdisciplinary approach are sometimes not reliable

CONCLUSION

q     Comparing the hitherto discussed advantages and disadvantages of interdisciplinary approach one may conclude that like other methods it also has its utility in some particular cases of research studies.

q   As a general rule, every method in social sciences, whatever may be its peculiar advantages, is effective only in some cases and not in all the cases of research