Interdisciplinary Studies of Childhood Ethics: Developing a New Field of Inquiry

The principal aim of this investigation was to help develop ‘Interdisciplinary Studies of Childhood Ethics’ as a new field of inquiry. We identified: (i) current intra‐disciplinary and interdisciplinary knowledge gaps in childhood ethics; and (ii) priorities for future research and development. A prominent problem, highlighted within and across disciplines, relates to how the best interests standard should be reconciled with the recognition of children as agents. This project makes an innovative contribution by promoting the development of interdisciplinary childhood ethics knowledge and standards, informing future improvements in childhood research and services.     

Transcending Boundaries

SUMMARY

This paper presents a participatory research and planned change effort to develop a coordinated community response system to domestic violence in a United States culturally diverse community with a large immigrant population. This work grew out of an international, interdisciplinary project that was designed to establish ongoing collaborative relationships between university and community practitioners in the United States, Honduras, and Costa Rica around the theme of intra-familial violence, particularly gender-based violence against women. The paper analytically describes the international collaborative project, the local community-based participatory research and community development project, and lessons learned from both the local and international interdisciplinary collaboration. Examination of differences across disciplinary and cultural contexts generated critical reflection on the need to consider reframing domestic violence in the context of fundamental human rights, as is the case in Central America. At the same time, challenges around developing a coordinated community response, addressing inadequacies in the legal system, and implementing education and training were echoed across boundaries, demonstrating the need for continued international collaboration.     

师范生跨学科教学素养及其培养路径探索

通过探讨跨学科教学素养的内涵，强调培养师范生跨学科教学素养的重要性，指出了当前师范生跨学科教学素养培养中存在问题，并从优化人才培养方案、构建跨学科培养的课程体系、建立跨学科的学习社区、提供多样化的学习资源和活动以及提供跨学科的评估方式和反馈机制等方面，提出了培养跨学科教学素养的途径，以期为培养师范生成为具有跨学科视野和能力的优秀教师提供参考。     

试析交叉学科知识点的形成机理和作用方式

学科指一个专门的研究领域,现代意义的学科主要指学术的分类,即按科学知识的性质而划分的知识门类,是专门的系统化的知识体系。研究知识点跨学科的运动现象,确定有效的搜索知识点的策略是非常重要的,它可以降低选择知识点时的失败几率。按照关联度的大小、强度的大小、关联度和强度叠加、搜索中心转移、多搜索中心搜索等知识点搜索定位,跨学科知识点相互作用有:比较、二门或三门学科知识点合成、多学科知识点合成、软学科和硬学科知识点合成及共存五种方式。     

我国高校跨学科人才培养的研究现状与展望

该文通过文献回顾发现,国内在跨学科人才培养的研究上,存在概念界定不一致,在研究对象上主要关注研究生层次的跨学科人才培养,研究内容主要涉及跨学科人才培养的制约因素、跨学科学生的特点、跨学科人才培养方式这几个方面,研究方法主要采用比较法,案例分析与归纳法等。我国跨学科人才培养方面的研究还未形成科学的体系,因此该话题的深入研究有待进一步探索。     

Enhancing Information Literacy in an Interdisciplinary Collaboration

ABSTRACT

The study examined the impact of an interdisciplinary collaborative on the information literacy of its participants by using legitimate peripheral participation (Lave & Wenger, 1991) as a conceptual framework. The objectives of this exploratory study were to document participants' qualitative gains in information technology knowledge and uses, and to analyze expert involvement in supporting learning by novices. Data were gathered by using a participation observation approach, interviews, and survey. Participants cited more frequently the non-technical aspects of information literacy as being more beneficial than gains in technical know-how. Varying degrees of expert involvement ranging from enabling to instructing were identified. The implications in terms of convening and managing communities of practice and the development of legitimate peripheral participation theory are discussed.     

Inside the Interdisciplinary Team Experiences of Hospice Social Workers

Abstract

Interdisciplinary teamwork is the foundation for the delivery of hospice care. This project interviewed 23 hospice social workers by telephone to explore their experiences with hospice team collaboration. Two research questions were explored: (1) What do social workers perceive as the strengths of interdisciplinary collaboration and (2) What are the challenges for social workers on interdisciplinary hospice teams? Participants identified issues related to team process, administrative processes, and barriers to effective team collaboration. Collaboration was said to be fostered by good communication, trust, roles, joint visitation, respect, team building activities, and administrative interest and support. Challenges to collaboration included large caseloads, a focus on the medical model, limited visits, personality and team conflict. Opportunities for improved collaboration between social workers and hospice team members exist through active evaluation of collaboration and strategic initiatives aimed at improving collaboration.     

Disciplining Bioethics: Towards a Standard of Methodological Rigor in Bioethics Research

Contemporary bioethics research is often described as multi- or interdisciplinary. Disciplines are characterized, in part, by their methods. Thus, when bioethics research draws on a variety of methods, it crosses disciplinary boundaries. Yet each discipline has its own standard of rigor-–so when multiple disciplinary perspectives are considered, what constitutes rigor? This question has received inadequate attention, as there is considerable disagreement regarding the disciplinary status of bioethics. This disagreement has presented five challenges to bioethics research. Addressing them requires consideration of the main types of cross-disciplinary research, and consideration of proposals aiming to ensure rigor in bioethics research.     

Spirituality,Religion, and Social Work

Abstract

Social work scholars and practitioners have approached the question of how to integrate religion and/or spirituality into their profession in one of four typical ways: (1) resistance or avoidance; (2) an overly-generalized syncretism; (3) radical separation of the terms spirituality and religion; or (4) a genuinely interdisciplinary conversation between the disciplines of social work and religious studies. This latter approach not only identifies social work's conflictual founding legacy, but also recognizes broader contemporary intellectual traditions which do not easily separate “religion” from “spirituality.” Such awareness and common grounding allow social work to more substantively and creatively partake in cross-disciplinary research and discussion.     

Disruption and Reintegration

Nursing home staff often fail to recognize and deal with the disruption and distress that takes place within a family when a member is institutionalized. The disruption of family relationships and the change in physical environment represent a family crisis that engenders a great sense of loss and grief. This paper discusses institutional planning and interventive strategies that help to expedite and facilitate this process of change in the most comfortable manner possible.