Chapters on Interdisciplinary Research and Research Skills

Koen van der Gaast spent three years working as a lecturer for the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies’ Bachelor’s programme in Future Planet Studies, where he lectured on academic skills, among other things. He is now a PhD candidate at Wageningen University & Research and Aeres University of Applied Sciences, Almere. Machiel Keestra is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies (University of Amsterdam) and former president of the Association for Interdisciplinary Studies. Laura Koenders, PhD, works at the Bachelorprogramme Psychobiology at the University of Amsterdam. Here she teaches Academical Skills, and different courses around the topics neuropsychology, neuroanatomy and research skills. Prof. S.B.J. Menken is Professor at the University of Amsterdam, Faculty of Science, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics and Scientific Director of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies. Ger Post spent five years working at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies, including as a lecturer in academic skills for the Bachelor’s programme in Natural and Social Sciences. He now works as an educational specialist at the School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Melbourne.

• Part 1 From ‘An Introduction to Interdisciplinary Research’1 Introduction 2 What is science? A brief philosophy of science 2.1 What is science? 2.2 Moving through the Science Cycle 4 Interdisciplinarity 7 The interdisciplinary research process 7.1 The IIS model of interdisciplinary research 7.2 Planning your research project 8 The problem Step 1 Identify problem or topic Step 2 Formulate preliminary research question 9 Theoretical framework and research question Step 3 Develop theoretical framework Step 4 Finalize research question Step 5 Formulate sub-questions 10 How to collect and analyze your data Step 6 Develop research methods and design Step 7 Data collection and analysis 11 Discussion and conclusion(s) Step 8 Interpret results, discuss research & draw conclusion(s) References Part 2 From ‘Academic Skills for Interdisciplinary Studies’ 1 Preparatory reading and searching 2 Gathering and organizing key information 3 Studying thoroughly and critically 4 From your topic to your question 5 Formulating a good question 6 A testable concept 7 Making a research instrument 8 Research practice 9 The structure of your article 10 Finishing your article: academic writing, titles, and abstracts 11 Citing sources and the bibliography 12 Preventing fraud and plagiarism Appendices Appendix A Sample literature review Appendix B Sample research article