What are the best practices for designing and conducting interdisciplinary research projects?

1 Define the problem and the goals

Before you start an interdisciplinary research project, you need to have a clear and shared understanding of the problem you want to solve and the goals you want to achieve. This involves identifying the main research question, the scope and boundaries of the project, the expected outcomes and impacts, and the criteria for success. You also need to justify why an interdisciplinary approach is necessary and beneficial for addressing the problem and the goals.

2 Choose the team and the roles

The next step is to select the team members and assign the roles and responsibilities for the project. You want to have a balanced and diverse team that covers the relevant disciplines, skills, and perspectives. You also want to ensure that each team member has a clear and meaningful role that contributes to the project. You should consider factors such as expertise, availability, motivation, communication style, and compatibility when choosing the team and the roles.

3 Establish the framework and the methods

Once you have the team and the roles, you need to establish the framework and the methods for the project. The framework defines how the team will collaborate, communicate, coordinate, and integrate their work. The methods define how the team will collect, analyze, synthesize, and disseminate their data and findings. You should choose a framework and methods that suit the problem, the goals, the team, and the context of the project. You should also be flexible and adaptable to adjust them as needed.

4 Build trust and rapport

A key factor for successful interdisciplinary research projects is trust and rapport among the team members. Trust and rapport can enhance communication, cooperation, creativity, and productivity. To build trust and rapport, you should engage in regular and respectful interactions, share your expectations and feedback, acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses, appreciate your differences and similarities, and celebrate your achievements and milestones.

5 Manage the challenges and the conflicts

Despite your best efforts, you may encounter challenges and conflicts during an interdisciplinary research project. These may include misunderstandings, disagreements, biases, power dynamics, ethical dilemmas, or practical difficulties. To manage these challenges and conflicts, you should adopt a constructive and collaborative attitude, listen actively and empathically, seek clarification and compromise, respect diversity and inclusivity, and seek external support or mediation if necessary.

6 Evaluate and reflect

The final step of an interdisciplinary research project is to evaluate and reflect on the process and the outcomes. You should assess how well you met your goals and criteria, what you learned from the project, what you achieved and contributed, what you enjoyed and struggled with, and what you can improve and apply in the future. You should also share your evaluation and reflection with your team members, your stakeholders, and your audiences.