Interdisciplinary researchers tend to be more collaborative, curious, and intellectually humble

作者:Stephanie M. 麦克弗森

A new 席勒电子游戏正规平台所 study shows researchers who have been awarded funding for interdisciplinary projects identify stronger with core values of collaboration, 好奇心, 智力上的谦逊 than their less interdisciplinary peers. These modes of thinking are considered vital for advancing research in a growing number of fields and suggest increased interdisciplinary funding would be beneficial across the board. 

“We found that being more intellectually humble is a strong predictor of listening to diverse perspectives that often contradict or might not align with your own,Stylianos Syropoulos说, a Postdoctoral 电子游戏正规平台 Fellow at the 席勒电子游戏正规平台所 and the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at 电子游戏软件 and the lead researcher on the study. “Measures of valuing collaboration and 好奇心 as well as being more intellectually humble are all higher for those who receive interdisciplinary grants, as is interdisciplinary engagement and enjoyment of research.” 

带着理智的谦逊, researchers acknowledge that they may have blind spots or knowledge gaps even within their areas of expertise. 它为合作和好奇心打开了大门, allowing researchers to find partners who can help fill those gaps. 教师 who have been supported by an interdisciplinary grant are more likely to self-identify with these virtues, and engage in research and activities that further interdisciplinary goals.

“促进跨学科, universities should seek to cultivate an environment which financially and culturally supports such collaborations,劳拉·J说。. Steinberg, Seidner Family Executive Director of the 席勒电子游戏正规平台所. 

这项工作是由 约翰邓普顿基金会，将在四月的会议上发表 美国教育电子游戏正规平台协会 会议. 

在这个项目中, professors across 电子游戏软件 were invited to take part in a survey that had them self-rank their affinity for collaboration, 好奇心, 智力上的谦逊. Surveys were sent during the spring semesters of 2022 and 2023 with 522 responses generated between the two offerings. Respondents were asked if they had applied for and/or received an interdisciplinary grant, and whether they had engaged in other interdisciplinary behaviors, from reading research papers outside of their academic area to giving an interdisciplinary talk. 

These findings were supported by a follow-up survey delivered through the Academic Leaders Network of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Steinberg joined the ALN in 2023 and served as co-chair of its Interdisciplinary Collaboration Committee, 在那里她讨论了Syropoulos的作品. 委员会成员很感兴趣, and Steinberg and co-chair Marcia Mardis of Florida State University arranged to distribute the survey to faculty at participating ACC schools. Results were strikingly similar to the results generated from the BC survey.

“This lends credence that these effects are not necessarily unique to 电子游戏软件, but that having the resources and providing them to faculty to engage in interdisciplinary collaboration appears to make them more intellectually humble and collaborative, 享受更多的电子游戏正规平台, 多参与跨学科电子游戏正规平台,Syropoulos说. 

That’s not to say faculty who are not awarded grants are unreceptive to interdisciplinary efforts. 

“The data we have on interdisciplinary practices [show that] many of these percentages are really high,，即使是在接受了资助后, 斯坦伯格说. “例如, 91 percent of respondents read scholarly literature that was outside their primary field. 这是令人鼓舞的.”

Interdisciplinary work has benefits beyond faculty interest in the collaborative process. It increases public trust that multiple avenues have been considered during a scientific study, especially in social sciences where researchers deal with more fraught issues such as public policy or 气候变化 — Syropoulos’s areas of expertise. His broader body of research focuses on intergroup conflict, 气候变化, 不平等, 与偏见》.

“The connecting thread is taking social psychology and applying it to moral decision making, 希望产生积极的社会变革,他说. 

He is intrigued by the idea of making headway in the 气候变化 discussion using an intergenerational decision-making approach, which reframes the conversation away from the science that some deniers find controversial and toward the phenomenon’s effects on future generations.

“很多时候都是关于气候变化的, which inherently pushes conservative folks away from engaging,他说. “So, if we make it more about the intergenerational aspect of how your own children won't be able to enjoy nature or national parks or have clean air, 干净的水, 这会让人们更加投入.”Because the areas he works in are inherently interdisciplinary, he understands the importance of such work to furthering knowledge.

“By highlighting the virtues [we looked at in this study] and instilling them in faculty, 我们可以增加部门间的合作,他说. “Being curious opens you up to look at other perspectives. Being collaborative makes you have the disposition [to work together successfully] 智力上的谦逊 allows you to more easily open yourself up to other perspectives.”