Driving complementarity in interdisciplinary research: a reflection

ABSTRACT

The value of interdisciplinary research is increasingly recognised by the research community. Funding bodies are nowadays specifically encouraging that research they fund is interdisciplinary in nature. However, what is often branded as interdisciplinary research is in fact a network of researchers working to deliver a research output. In this research note, we share our experience of what we think can be labelled “truly interdisciplinary”. We share some best practice tips for those who are interested to go through a similar metamorphosis as we did as a team, learning from each other’s ways of working. Overall, it has been a very positive experience and a revelation that has had a big impact on each author’s view on how to conduct research as an integrated multidisciplinary team, as it has shifted our mental models and broadened our thinking, capacity to reflect, and critical analysis. We hope that our research note clearly shows the benefits of truly interdisciplinary research and motivates other researchers to follow our pathway of transformation.

KEYWORDS:

• Interdisciplinary research
• reflection
• success Story
• best practice

Acknowledgments

Elvira Perez Vallejos acknowledges the resources of the NIHR Nottingham Biomedical

Research Centre.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Penelope Siebert

Penelope Siebert is currently a lecturer and public health researcher at Nottingham Trent University. She has a special interest in the use of evaluation methodologies and ethnographic methods to inform the design and implementation of innovations aimed at improving health outcomes and addressing the wider determinants of health.

Peer-Olaf Siebers

Peer-Olaf Siebers is an Assistant Professor at the School of Computer Science, University of Nottingham, UK. His main research interest is the application of Computer Simulation and Artificial Intelligence to study human-centric and coupled human-natural systems. His current research focus is twofold. On the methodological frontier, he is advancing the model development strategies for OOABS. He is looking at novel uses of social simulation for studying urban sustainability and people’s wellbeing at local and global scale.

Elvira Perez Vallejos

Elvira Perez Vallejos is an Associate Professor and her research focuses on the ethical challenges embedded within digital tech for mental health, including the widespread of machine learning/AI methods on the development of new mental health interventions. She has experience on applying Responsible Research and Innovation frameworks and Data Ethics as well as on understanding issues of Trust on technology, Data Privacy, Online Consent, User-centric approaches to design, Creative Practices for Mutual Recovery, Experimental Psychology, Participatory Research, Co-Production, and engaging Children and Young People, and Older Adults in research.

Tommy Nilsson

Tommy Nilsson, PGR is a final year PhD student in Human Computer Interaction (HCI). His current work is primarily concerned with assessing social acceptability of future and emerging domestic autonomous systems. With a background in Interaction Design, he has a decade’s worth of experience in designing digital solutions for academia as well as the industry, spanning a wide range of application areas, including education, mental health and workplace safety training systems.