Question 1

Why is research important?

Accepted Answer

A)  Research is only important if I want to go to graduate school. 
B)  Research provides critical information for making important decisions. 
C)  Research provides evidence for convincing others and provides guidance on how to make things better. 
D)  Both "b" and "c" are correct. D

Question 2

What research method is preferred by interdisciplinarians?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Broad Model 
B)  The Narrow Model 
C)  It depends on the disciplines selected. A

Question 3

An issue such as "terrorism" would be

Accepted Answer

A)  Appropriate for interdisciplinary study because it is complex. 
B)  Appropriate for interdisciplinary study because it is an unmet societal problem or need. 
C)  Inappropriate for interdisciplinary study because the discipline of political science is sufficient to address the problem. 
D)  "a" and "b" are correct. D

Question 4

What are the differences between Disciplinary and Interdisciplinary Approaches to Research?

Accepted Answer

A)  disciplinary research chooses from upward of a dozen or so specialized methods to study a particular phenomenon 
B)  interdisciplinary research studies a topic or question that is inherently complex and whose parts are the focus of two or more disciplines, integrate their insights, and construct a more comprehensive understanding of the problem or question 
C)  They are both the same. 
D)  Both "a" and "b" are correct.

Question 5

The Broad Model is effective as a research method because:

Accepted Answer

A)  It subsumes Problem Centering, Contextualization, and Conceptualization 
B)  It can draw on disciplines from all categories 
C)  It facilitates a movement from problem to understanding. 
D)  All these answers are correct.

Question 6

What is research?

Accepted Answer

A)  Something you do when you need to study for an exam. 
B)  The process of gathering information to understand how some aspect of the natural or human world functions. 
C)  Something you do only if you work in medicine.

Question 7

A concept such as "respiration in cats" would be

Accepted Answer

A)  Appropriate for interdisciplinary study because it is complex. 
B)  Appropriate for interdisciplinary study because it is an unmet societal problem or need. 
C)  Appropriate for interdisciplinary study because the discipline of biology is sufficient to address the problem. 
D)  "a" and "b" are correct.

Question 8

Domestic violence is a problem that would be suitable for interdisciplinary investigation because

Accepted Answer

A)  The problem is complex and deals with phenomena in the purview of several disciplines. 
B)  The problem is an ongoing societal problem. 
C)  Sociology would be the only discipline needed. 
D)  Domestic violence would not be a suitable problem for interdisciplinary investigation. 
E)  "a" and "b" are correct.

Question 9

Some of the hallmarks of a good interdisciplinary research question are:

Accepted Answer

A)  There is no way to tell. All problems are different. 
B)  The problem or research question is complex and important insights into the problem are offered by two or more disciplines. 
C)  The problem is an unresolved issue or unmet societal need and no single discipline has been able to address the problem comprehensively. 
D)  "b" and "c" are correct

Question 10

In Step 2 of the Broad Model, you would justify using an interdisciplinary response by

Accepted Answer

A)  Explaining that important insights into the problem are offered by only one discipline. 
B)  Explaining that a single discipline has been able to address the problem comprehensively. 
C)  Explaining that the problem is an unresolved issue or unmet societal need that demands the insights of more than one discipline because of its complexity. 
D)  All of the above 
E)  None of the above.

Question 11

A task force that has been set up to investigate the threats of terrorism to the U.S.

Accepted Answer

A)  Would benefit from interdisciplinary approaches because the problem is complex and deals with phenomena in the purview of several disciplines. 
B)  Would not benefit from interdisciplinary approaches because a multidisciplinary approach would suffice. 
C)  Would be better served by a task force of military experts. 
D)  Would be better served by multidisciplinarians because they are able to work with conflicting insights in a way that is evenhanded and that does not privilege any one discipline or its perspective.

Question 12

The first step in the Broad Model is to

Accepted Answer

A)  Define the problem or state the research question. 
B)  Justify using an interdisciplinary response. 
C)  Conduct a literature review. 
D)  Decide what your opinion on the problem is.

Question 13

A sentence in your interdisciplinary research that includes a phrase such as "I am seeking to answer this question in order that (or so that) . . ."

Accepted Answer

A)  Suggests that you are addressing the "so what" part of Step 1 of the Broad Model. 
B)  Suggests that you are clarifying the scope of your question. 
C)  Suggests that you are using the rhetorical device of persuasion in your paper. 
D)  Suggests that you are crafting your conclusion.

Question 14

The Broad Model has ___ steps

Accepted Answer

A)  10 
B)  6 
C)  As many as required.

Question 15

How do you develop a good research question?

Accepted Answer

A)  You craft the question so that it conveys the focus of the study in an easy to understand sentence or two. 
B)  You define the scope or boundaries of the study and characterize the study as interdisciplinary. 
C)  You answer the "so what?" question. 
D)  All of the above are correct. 
E)  None of the above is correct.

Question 16

Disciplinary bias, disciplinary jargon, and personal bias

Accepted Answer

A)  Are inescapable for interdisciplinarians. 
B)  Are inescapable for multidisciplinarians. 
C)  Are the three tendencies that run counter to the interdisciplinary process 
D)  "a" and "b" are correct.

Question 17

Reading the extract from question 19 above again, how would you revise the paragraph so that it addresses all the requirements of an effective interdisciplinary research question?

Accepted Answer

A)  Add a sentence that explains important insights into the problem are offered by two or more disciplines 
B)  Add a sentence that identifies the focus of the study 
C)  Add a sentence that defines the scope or boundaries of the study and characterizes the study as interdisciplinary 
D)  The paragraph addresses all the requirements without any additional material.

Exam 10: An Interdisciplinary Research Road Map