The Interdisciplinary Team Not the Interdisciplinarist: Reflections on Interdisciplinary Research

Worldwide there is a growing interest in multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research. This Viewpoint addresses some of the pitfalls of, and barriers to, being an interdisciplinary researcher. Engaging in interdisciplinary research is not an easy option for an individual discipline expert. It requires individual skills, ability to see beyond one’s discipline and perhaps personality characteristics (e.g. being a team player). Interdisciplinary research may involve a mixed-methods approach underpinned by conflicting, and according to some incommensurable, research philosophies. The paper uses some examples drawn from experiences of working in interdisciplinary teams to illustrate its potential.