Towards a transdisciplinary blueprint to studying bullying

Abstract

Events related to bullying are so complex that they require a much broader examination than is usually available from a single disciplinary point of view. The purpose of the present paper is to offer new ways of examining this complex phenomenon. We will argue that transdisciplinarity (henceforth TD) could bring a more comprehensive analysis and a deeper understanding to the current state of bullying research. As a way of emphasizing the benefits of a more pluralistic and integrative approach, we will use TD based examples to describe the general context and process we used to develop a new definition of bullying, one that provides a sharper distinction between bullying and general aggression, thus offering the possibility of more targeted intervention strategies. The present paper is divided into three sections, namely, a selected review of the TD literature, an application of TD inspired ideas and tools that examine bullying from a number of interrelated perspectives, and an outline of a conceptual 'Disciplinary Continuum', as an example of how TD can be used to examine complex phenomena. Moreover, we will highlight TD's expanding role in the funding process, as it is increasingly required by granting agencies and governmental ministries as a criterion for universities' funding. We conclude by outlining ideas for further inquiries. ARTICLE HISTORY

The Power of Civility: A Transdisciplinary Examination of Adolescent Social Power and Bullying

“…In many ways, this resembles the confusion and profusion of the use of the word bullying by academics and the general public (Volk et al, 2017;Vaillancourt et al, 2008). Martin (2017, p. 40) notes that in "transdisciplinary research" the whole is not only greater than the sum of its parts, but also has "qualitatively different characteristics. "…”

“…One potential solution to these problems is to use theoretical perspectives that are deliberately not limited by disciplinary silos or to studying normalized subject populations. To our knowledge, there is one such approach that may prove useful in understanding adolescent power and bullying: transdisciplinary theory (Marini & Volk, 2017). Transdisciplinarity can be defined as research that operates simultaneously between disciplines, across different disciplines, and beyond all academic disciplines (Nicolescu, 2002).…”

“…The complex problem of designing successful interventions for adolescent bullying may account for the exponential increase of the bullying literature (Volk, Veenstra, & Espelage, 2017). While this literature is impressive (e.g., over 5000 peerreviewed publications in the last five years), an increasing problem within the literature is a growing fracturing of theory, measures, and interpretations (Volk et al, 2017). Disciplinary boundaries, terminology, and theoretical conflict all play a role in reducing the clarity and utility of this research (Volk et al, 2017).…”

“…While this literature is impressive (e.g., over 5000 peerreviewed publications in the last five years), an increasing problem within the literature is a growing fracturing of theory, measures, and interpretations (Volk et al, 2017). Disciplinary boundaries, terminology, and theoretical conflict all play a role in reducing the clarity and utility of this research (Volk et al, 2017). It was for this reason that we previously called for a transdisciplinary approach to studying bullying that would literally transcend many of these issues in an effort to better tackle the problem of adolescent bullying and the abuse of power (Marini & Volk, 2017).…”

“…Disciplinary boundaries, terminology, and theoretical conflict all play a role in reducing the clarity and utility of this research (Volk et al, 2017). It was for this reason that we previously called for a transdisciplinary approach to studying bullying that would literally transcend many of these issues in an effort to better tackle the problem of adolescent bullying and the abuse of power (Marini & Volk, 2017).…”