Exploring Avenues to Interdisciplinary Research

This edited work presents a collection of chapters on a range of key areas in multi- and interdisciplinary research. They represent some of the current thinking and practice of interdisciplinary research, and are an outcome of the 1st Cross-Disciplinary Research Conference held in November 2007 at the University of Nottingham. This book consists of a collection of contributions on interdisciplinary theory and practice, as viewed through the experience of 'new' interdisciplinarians. It spans a variety of disciplines such as education, psychology, law, architecture, media, and health care. Its purpose is to contribute to the emerging literature and academic debate in interdisciplinary research and to give new interdisciplinarians a voice. This edited volume does not claim to cover all areas of cross-, multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary research. However, it represents some of the variety and exciting developments in as well as some of the challenges and problems currently facing interdisciplinary research. In summary, the chapters presented in this book illustrate a range of approaches and applications of interdisciplinary research in different fields. The book contributes to a learned debate about the multifaceted character of interdisciplinary research and illustrates its strengths and limitations through interdisciplinarians' experiences.