Inter / transdisciplinary research

Question 1

What is interdisciplinary research?

Answer 1

Multiple disciplines work together to answer a research question.

Question 2

What is transdisciplinary?

Answer 2

Multiple disciplines work together with the non-academic environment to answer a question.

Question 3

What is participatory action research (PAR) and why is it important?

Answer 3

Focusses on action and research in a participatory manner. Collaborating with local people.

It is important to close the gap between science and society. The needs of society is not always what is researched. And what is researched is not always implemented.

Question 4

What are the purposes of PAR?

Answer 4

• Minimize power differences between researchers and constituents
• Increase the knowledge of participants
• Promote social change.

Question 5

What are the drawbacks of PAR?

Answer 5

• Time consuming
• Romantisized
• You don’t know the outcome which makes it difficult to find donors.

Question 6

What is conscientization?

Answer 6

Developing awareness of one’s social reality through reflection and action. Action is fundamental because it is the process of changing reality.