Leerdoelen
The Interdisciplinary Project has as its main goal:
- Designing and executing an interdisciplinary research in an interdisciplinary team, integrating knowledge from various disciplines and producing new insights with regard to complex actual issues.
To reach this goal, the following objectives are formulated:
- Augmenting the insights in the differences between disciplines with regard to their use of theories, concepts, models, methods and techniques.
- Mutual development of an interdisciplinary research question and answering that question, bearing responsibility for the knowledge gained in one‘s own scientific discipline.
- Learning how to select the relevant disciplines and disciplinary literature and knowledge (empirical data and theories) related to the research question.
- Identifying differences in disciplines that can form barriers for interdisciplinary cooperation and trying to define common ground between potentially conflicting insights.
- Gaining experience with the creation of new, interdisciplinary knowledge by combining and integrating input from various scientific disciplines.
- Writing a report and presenting the research results for an academic jury (and broader audience).
- Reflection on the social relevance and ethical aspects of the research project.
Inhoud
The Interdisciplinary Project is the final project of the bachelor program. It is the last course you will take together with your fellow Future Planet Students and runs along the other (major and minor) courses you are taking in semester 5 or 6. The Interdisciplinary Project starts with a theoretical and methodological introduction of interdisciplinary research and the process that it involves. After the introduction you will work in teams on the design and execution of your own interdisciplinary research project, on a subject of your own choice.
As a team, you develop a research question on an interdisciplinary theme. Individually, you deliver a contribution from a specialization field of your own scientific discipline (the major you are following). This includes an overview of relevant theory and literature on the chosen subject. Together, you bring out a report on the research. In this final product, the additional value of the interdisciplinary approach is clearly expressed, as well as the social relevance of the research you have undertaken.
The final product of the module, i.e. the research report on the interdisciplinary theme in question, can also form part of your bachelor thesis.
The Interdisciplinary Project is completed by jointly producing and writing a research report. Each team presents its research report during the concluding symposium for a broad audience. The presentation is judged by a broadly composed academic panel that rewards the best presentation with an award. The report and presentation form the conclusion of Future Planet Studies.
Aanmelden
Via Studieweb, before the start of the fifth block. See Registration for courses and exams via studieweb, in the chapter ‘Algemene Studie Informatie’.
Onderwijsvorm
Combination of lectures, workshops, tutorials and self-study. Besides the class meetings and tutorials, meant to enhance the group process and monitor the progress of the project, students execute their research on their own and are expected to organize subsequent team meetings whenever necessary. Where needed, they can request additional meetings with their tutor separately, i.e. per team.
Onderwijstijden
Class Meetings will be scheduled mainly in the evening, so as to avoid interference with the various major programmes. See for the definite schedule www.rooster.uva.nl
Besides meetings with teachers and/or tutors, students are to plan team meetings in order to discuss the joint assignments and the contribution they deliver individually to these assignments.
Studiemateriaal
Students are expected to read Repko (2008) Interdisciplinary Research, as the Interdisciplinary Project takes the 10 steps for Interdisciplinary Research as laid down in this book as a guideline. Depending on the subject they are going to work on, they read additional papers, book chapters or articles pertaining to the case. Besides the Manual for the Interdisciplinary Project with assignments including time schedules with deadlines, additional (links to) lectures and material is made available on Blackboard.
Toetsvorm
The Interdisciplinary Project consists of various assignments; both individual and group assignments. How the various parts of the assignments are weighed will be explained in the manual to the Interdisciplinary Project.
Besides assessment of the contents of the produced research report, the mutual cooperation and remaining within the proposed time schedule (sticking to the deadlines!) will also be considered, since this is a research practical in which these competencies are weighed as equally important.
Bijzonderheden
The Interdisciplinary Project is organized twice per year, so students can choose to participate in the Project in either semester 5 or semester 6, depending on which semester is favorable compared with the study load in their major programme. Students are expected to plan and coordinate their activities for the Interdisciplinary Project in such a way that it matches their major studies and does not hinder the group process.
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