Interdisciplinary Studies-the study of knowledge combination and integration into new knowledge

bases, involving examinations that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries.

Discipline- a singular field of study or body of knowledge, governed by socially and academically
accepted principles, standards, and laws.
Disciplinarity- the act of working within a given disciplinary structure; researching and applying its
principles directly to a problem.
Interdisciplinary research- a scientific process in which researchers integrate existing disciplines into a
new discipline, for the purposes of examining and solving a research problem.
Interdisciplinary Learning- bringing together different disciplinary knowledge bases to better
understand a problem, or create a new knowledge base from their integration.
Multidisciplinary- an approach that includes multiple disciplinary perspectives, but that does not work
to integrate them into a new whole. Multidisciplinary work integrates different perspectives, but
maintains their separation as distinct identities.
Crossdisciplinary- an approach that blends different disciplinary perspectives, but does not work to
integrate them into a new whole. Crossdisciplinary work may transcend disciplinary boundaries.
Intradisciplinary-working within the confines of a specific discipline
Metaphor-a figure of speech used to represent a thought, idea, or concept
Blooms Taxonomy-a classification of learning objectives, created by a committee led by Benjamin
Bloom from 1949-1953.
Integration-the process of combining multiple objects or concepts into a single, cohesive whole
Epistemology-a theory of knowledge that differentiates justified belief from opinion.
Concept- an abstract idea or notion that allows for study.
Method- an organization of thought or action.
Methodology-a system of methods used in a particular area of study
Theory- principles that govern a practice.
Curriculum- a set of courses or educational concepts that are taught to students.
Perspective- the view an individual takes of a concept, idea or solution, influenced by their knowledge
base and biases.

Insight- the knowledge base an individual brings to address a potential problem.

Ideas- a thought or concept, created from a mental activity.
Philosophy- the study of knowledge, values, and ethics.
Association for Integrative Studies- the professional organization dedicated to the advancement of
interdisciplinary studies as a research field and curriculum.
Knowledge- information and skills acquired through experience or education.
Heuristic-the process of individual learning or discovery
Ethnocentrism-belief in the superiority of one's own ethnic group.
Boundary crossing-the process of exchanging ideas and information across a set of constraints.
Domains- an area dominated by a people or those sharing a set of values or beliefs.
Models of thinking- a method of organizing thoughts
Critical Thinking- the act of analysis and examination of a work or idea.
Hegemony-leadership or dominance by one country or social group.
Dogmatic-beholden to a principle, value, or idea and its near-infallibility.
Holistic-an examination based on analysis of all parts of a subject or thought, instead of those
specifically related to a given problem.
Dichotomy- a division occurring as the result of combining two opposed ideas or disciplines.
Dialectic- the art of investigating the origin of the truth.
Iterative-a process of applying disciplinary knowledge repetitively until a desired result is obtained.
Heuristic-enabling a person to discover or learn something for themselves.
Recursive-the process of applying disciplinary knowledge repetitively to obtain the same result
repetitively
Communication- the exchange of ideas, information, or news.
Polemical-a resulting dispute between ideas or disciplines.
Idea dominance-the overshadowing of a single concept or idea to the detriment or subordination of
others.
Scope-the extent of a study that research seeks to expand upon.