rudy schuster + craig colten - "interdisciplinary research: navigating the pitfalls, processes, &...

7/29/2019 Rudy Schuster + Craig Colten - "Interdisciplinary Research: Navigating the Pitfalls, Processes, & Potential of Integrating Natural Sciences with Social Science & the Humanities"

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Interdisciplinary Research: Navigating

the Pitfalls, Processes, & Potential ofIntegrating Natural Science with Social

Science & the Humanities

Rudy M. Schuster, USGS, Fort Collins

Science Center, CO

Craig E. Colten, Department of Geography and

Anthropology, Louisiana State University

Acknowledgement: Gary Machlis, Science Advisor to theDirector, National Park Service, Washington, DC


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Objectives

What is Interdisciplinary Research (IDR):definitions

Drivers of IDR and examples Challenges & Pitfalls Considerations when social sciences &

humanities attempt IDR with natural/biologicalsciences

Tips and thoughts throughout


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The stuff I am not making up came

from: Baerwald T.J. 2010 Dewulf A., Francois G., Pahl-Wostl C., Tailleiu 2007 Eigenbrode S.E. et al. 2007 Dobbs T.L. 1987 Golde C.M. 1999

Grimm N.B., Grove M., Pickett S.T.A., Redman C.L. 2000 Lowe P., Whitman, G., Phillipson J. 2009 Machlis G.E., Force J.E., Burch W.R. 1997 Naiman R.J. 1999 National Academy of Sciences 2005 Pickett S.T.A., Burch W.R., Grove J.M 1099 Pohl C, 2007 Qin H., Flint C.G. 2010 Redman C.L. 1999 Turner M.G. 1999 Wear D.N. 1999


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What is IDR: Definition

A mode of research by teams of individualsthat integrates information, data, techniques,

tools, perspectives, concepts, and/or theories

from two or more disciplines or bodies of

specialized knowledge to advance fundamental

understanding or to solve problems whose

solutions are beyond the scope of a singlediscipline or area of research practice

NAS 2005


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What IDR is NOT: more definitions

Borrowing: the use of one disciplinesmethods, skills, or theories in a different

discipline

Multidisciplinary Research: research thatinvolves more than a single discipline in which

each discipline makes a separate contribution.

Investigators may share facilities and approaches,but work on separate aspects of a problem

NAS 2005


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Transdisciplinary Research

The conception of research questions thattranscend the individual departments or

specialized knowledge bases because they are

intended to solve research questions that are,by definition, beyond the purview of the

individual disciplines

Address problems in a way that breaks downbetween disciplinary boundaries, but maintainsdisciplinary expertise of participants

The Holy Grail


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When are you conducting IDR?

Research is truly IDR when it is not justpasting two disciplines together to create one

product but rather is an integration and

synthesis of ideas and methods

Not working together to create products that youtake home to apply individually

NAS 2005


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How you get to IDR: Science Planning

Process

IDR involves Science PlanningScience planning is conducted at all levels of

organization

Individual scientists conducting their work Teams of scientists Agency/institutional/policy levels

Expect to move through stages of integrationas the IDR process develops


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Modes of participation

How the investigators do the work1. Master of multiple fields

One person masters multiple fields and integrates them Albert Einstein departed from physics and mastered Riemann

geometry to create the new General Theory of Relativity

2. Collaborators Group if investigators with mastery in individual fields

learn to communicate and collaborate on a single

problem


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Drivers of IDR

Is there a need & justification for IDR today?


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The urgency and complexity of current

environmental problems require

ecologists to engage in cross-disciplinary research with social

scientists, among others.

However, engaging with the social

sciences is a major shift of strategy,

which may involve ecologists not only

in novel subject matter but also inunfamiliar research methods and

modes of understandings.


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Driver 1: Complexity of Nature &

Society Interface

Humans: cultural practices, land mosaics,traditions, myths, institutions, laws, taxes,

regulations, technologies, cultural values/

beliefs, traditional land use practices

Nature: oceans, rivers, seas, lakes, land cover,wildlife, solar radiation, transport processes,

phonology


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Context Example Complexity of Nature &

Society Interface: Environmental Justice

Figure: Children playing in water at colonia along Arizona-

Sonora border (photo by Hugo Rodrguez-Gallegos, 2004).


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Driver 2: Need to Solve Societal

problems

Human society depends on valid science tobase decision making

Provide food water, security, health, jobs, energy,transportation, quality of life

Problems are becoming more complexrequiring new scientific approaches

Refer to Driver 1


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Context Example Deepwater Horizon

Insert photo of DWH(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

(MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)

(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Driver 2: Need to Solve

Societal problems


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Driver 3: Basic research problems at the

interface of disciplines

Interesting problems are often at the interfacesbetween disciplines and in the white space

on the organizational charts

It is just fun to do! Human Dimensions of Resource Management

(and similar) programs exist at the interface of

disciplines


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Context Example Basic research

problems at the interface of disciplines:

BLM Wild Horse & Borrow Management

Photo credit: BLM


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Driver 4: Stimulus of Generative

Technology

Technology influences scienceThe microscope created molecular biologyAllowed Hooke and van Leeuwenhoke to see

cubicles (cells) and animalcules (bacteria)

Cyberinfrastructure & InternetMakes communication and information sharing

possible


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Context Example: Recreation Ecology

Driver 4: Stimulus ofGenerative Technology


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Challenges & Pitfalls I

CommunicationLearning about other disciplines and their vocabularyNot just language, must share meanings

Not all team members are created equalDiffering intellectual abilityCommitment to team approach

PublishingTakes longer to get in-pressTarget journals difficult to find?

Emergence of new journals reduces shoehorningOwnership of ideas & data; Who is first author?


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Challenges & Pitfalls II

Time: takes longer toPlan, get work going, integrate, write, publishTime, efforts, & costs from start-up to finish of

IDR projects is longer than most institutional

attention spans

Peer PerceptionInterdisciplinary scientists are less competent or

accomplished

Interdisciplinary science is less exacting


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Challenges & Pitfalls III

Institutional issues:Traditions and policies that govern hiring,

promotion, tenure, and resource allocation

Departmental structureReward systems (lack of)Is IDR career threatening?


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Challenges & Pitfalls IV

Organization & Getting it doneIDR lacks procedural framework

Framework to organize and manage the groupIDR lacks conceptual framework

Framework for doing the researchCommon perception of problem & research questions

Integration of methods to serve multiple disciplines


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Challenges & Pitfalls V

Team member buy-in Leadership & Followership


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IDR Considerations for

Social & Humanities

Scientists


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IDR Considerations I: Nature-human

relationship as seen by natural scientists

Understand how natural/biological scientistsview the human-nature relationship

Which is the dominant influence?Nature

Culture/

Humans

Culture/Humans

Nature

Figure credit: Redman 1999


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IDR Considerations II: Nature-human

relationship as seen by natural scientists

1. The natural world (and science) is the antithesis of thehuman world

Objective is to protect nature from human destruction2. People are ecological agents

Human influences are everywhere Human effects are treated as external factors or goals in the

management of semi-natural systems

3. People are treated as ecological subjects/objects People & nature are part of one system Subject to the same underlying processesNatural scientist assumes either:

Natural science generalizations are relevant to humans or Embraces human society as part of the system and project

Lowe et al. 2009

IDR C id i III H ill


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IDR Considerations III: How will

social science & humanities be used

Non-Instrumental ApproachInstrumental Approach

Communication & Policy

Translation

Insight into design & implementationof env policyEnhanced ability to predict patterns ofenc mgt & policy

Influence on env mgtFacilitation of Environmental

ManagementUnderstanding of institutional factorsresponsible for success/failure of env

mgt

Understanding of decision makingprocesses surrounding env mgt

Human Values & Societal Interests

Understanding of the value of ecologicalgoods & services

Understanding of contribution of ecologicalorganisms/systems to human well-being

Understanding of societal goals andconcerns surrounding ecological organisms/

systems

Understanding Human Impacts

Understanding of socioeconomicmechanisms of land use change

Understanding of the impacts of humansystems on ecological organisms/systems

Fig: Lowe et al. 2009


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IDR Considerations

IV:

Framing the Problem

ID commonProblem and

Issues

Issue Basedapproach

Place Basedapproach

Urgency in society


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IDR Considerations V:

Framing the Problem

ID a commonstarting point

Find a model to useas a framework foreverybody to workwith

Watch-out forcompeting or

favorite modelproblemjust pickone!

IDR Considerations VI:


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IDR Considerations VI:

Group Management Everybody buys into the Team Philosophy Environment that encourages collaboration

Safe environment

Face-to-face meetings

Photo: DOI StrategicSciences Working

Group 2010


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IDR Considerations VII:

Group Management

Frequent (regular) virtual meetings Have a vision of the entire process at the start

Think of the end at the beginning Include multiple perspectives in the group

Managers, scientists, policy/decision makers Have a person responsible for making things

happenDifferent from leader; a post-doc, participant, sub-

committees, administrative person, etc.


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IDR Considerations VIII:

The Last Five

Willingness to relinquish control Of methods, data collection, data itself, ideas,

analysis

Understanding the difference between Dilutionand Integration Of methods, results, etc.

Power of a good working environment Communication! Leadership, Leadership, Leadership

Leadership is not ownership

I IDR d d t k l


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Is IDR so dangerous we need to keep clear or a

thing of majestic-natural beauty that we are

drawn to?

rudy schuster + craig colten - "interdisciplinary research: navigating the pitfalls, processes, &...

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