interdisciplinarity

USAGE SUMMARY

'interdisciplinarity' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where the disciplines of two or more academic areas are blended together or used in combination. For example: "This research project focuses on interdisciplinarity, combining approaches from anthropology and philosophy to form a new methodology."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

According to Adam Bly, Seed's founder, internet-aided interdisciplinarity and globalisation, coupled with a generational shift, portend a great revolution.

The Economist

The system had resisted reforms calling for more uniformity in teacher status, changes in method and content orientation, teacher cooperation, interdisciplinarity, and technological familiarity.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Founded in 1919 by architect Walter Gropius, the Bauhaus was a radical school that endeavoured to teach the interdisciplinarity of the arts and crafts, including painting, textile design, architecture, and photography.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Organizations such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the United Nations body that evaluates and synthesizes climate research, are only "tiny baby steps" toward urgently needed interdisciplinarity, Brashares said.

The New Yorker

Kia Hook: The interdisciplinarity of our field is increasing, which is fantastic but also very difficult.

The New York Times

"He had huge influence in both fields, bringing them together as an inventor of interdisciplinarity -- almost the coiner of the term".

The New York Times

They might suggest that I use words like "synergy" and "interdisciplinarity" and "dialogue".

The New York Times

This interdisciplinarity raised eyebrows at first, she says, but has since become much more common.

The Guardian

Scientometrics work by Ismael Rafols and colleagues has revealed how journal rankings discourage interdisciplinarity by systematically evaluating disciplinary research more highly.

The Guardian

Palladino predicts a bleak future for interdisciplinary research, which he says will end up being conflated with cross-disciplinarity, so that any collaboration between academics in different disciplines is defined as delivering interdisciplinarity.

The Guardian

For more senior academics, interdisciplinarity usually involves collaborating on a project with colleagues from different backgrounds.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Clearly define which disciplines are being integrated to provide context and demonstrate the scope of the interdisciplinary approach.

Common error

Avoid using "interdisciplinarity" when you actually mean multidisciplinarity. Multidisciplinarity involves different disciplines addressing a problem separately, while interdisciplinarity integrates them into a cohesive approach.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "interdisciplinarity" is as a noun, referring to the quality or state of being interdisciplinary. It often serves as a subject or object in sentences describing academic approaches or research methodologies. Ludwig AI confirms its use as a valid noun.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "interdisciplinarity" is a noun that refers to the integration of multiple academic disciplines, as confirmed by Ludwig. It is commonly used in formal and scientific contexts to describe research, education, and approaches that combine different fields of knowledge. While it is a grammatically correct and frequently used term, it is important to differentiate it from multidisciplinarity, which involves separate disciplines addressing a problem without integration. Using "interdisciplinarity" effectively involves clearly defining the disciplines being integrated and highlighting the benefits of this combined approach. Ludwig's examples show the term's use in various contexts, emphasizing its relevance in addressing complex, multifaceted issues.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cross-disciplinary approach

Focuses on the 'crossing' aspect of different disciplines, highlighting collaboration.

integrated disciplines

Emphasizes the combination of disciplines into a unified whole.

multidisciplinary collaboration

Highlights the collaboration aspect, implying multiple disciplines working together.

interdisciplinary studies

Refers to the field of study itself rather than the concept.

integrative learning

Focuses on the learning process that combines different disciplines.

convergent research

Implies that different research areas are coming together.

transdisciplinary methods

Suggests methods that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries.

holistic perspective

Emphasizes a comprehensive view that incorporates multiple aspects.

synthetic approach

Focuses on creating something new by combining different elements.

collaborative scholarship

Highlights the cooperative nature of academic work across disciplines.

FAQs

How can I use "interdisciplinarity" in a sentence?

You can use "interdisciplinarity" to describe an approach that combines multiple academic disciplines. For example, "The project's success relies on the interdisciplinarity of its research team."

What are some fields that benefit from "interdisciplinarity"?

Many fields benefit from interdisciplinarity, including environmental science, healthcare, and urban planning, as these require understanding of complex interconnected systems.

What's the difference between "interdisciplinarity" and cross-disciplinarity?

"Interdisciplinarity" emphasizes the integration of different fields, while "cross-disciplinarity" can simply mean that disciplines interact without necessarily deeply integrating.

Why is "interdisciplinarity" important in academic research?

"Interdisciplinarity" is important because it allows researchers to address complex problems that cannot be solved by a single discipline, fostering innovation and holistic understanding.