Becoming authentic multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary researchers: methodological practices and outcomes

Abstract

This article outlines successful practices employed by two experienced researchers from different knowledge fields (in this case, creative writing/applied arts and nursing/applied science) who bring diverse research methodologies and approaches to work on multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary projects. Defining single discipline, multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research, and based on a review of their own disciplinary -as well as multidisciplinary and traditional 'mixed methods', research methodologies -this article investigates how these researchers navigate the range of available methodologies to both make meaning in their research projects and also allow a wide, and project-relevant, dissemination of their findings. It profiles completed collaborative projects and evaluates the approaches utilised, including how this rationale has influenced their practice as higher degree research student supervisors.