Early Career Researchers' Self-Reported Interest in Participating in Interdisciplinary Research: A Mixed-Method Study.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56294/saludcyt20251330Keywords:
Early career researchers, Self-reported interest, Interdisciplinary researchAbstract
Introduction: Interdisciplinary research teams, combining diverse perspectives and methodologies, are essential for solving complex problems and generating innovative solutions. This study aimed to identify researcher-centered attributes that influence Early Career Researchers in their interest toward interdisciplinary research participation.
Method: The study was conducted among 330 Early Career Researchers, who had recently participated in an interdisciplinary research project. The 24-month study was conducted in two parts: a cross-sectional questionnaire and in-depth interviews with selected participants. The participants, who were multidisciplinary professionals (e.g., physicians, nurses, therapists, engineers, and pharmacists), were working or studying for their master’s degrees during the study period. The post-participation questionnaire assessed participants' interest in future interdisciplinary studies and their attitudes towards initiating similar projects. Six questions addressed ease of participation, emotional status during participation, and willingness to engage in future studies.
Results: Mood of the day, participatory satisfaction, curiosity level, and ease of participation were positively correlated to interest in future participation, whereas physical fatigue was negatively correlated. Spearman’s rho correlation of moderate intensity was observed between mood of the day and participatory satisfaction (0.550, p < 0.001); curiosity level and ease of participation (0.532, p < 0.001); ease of participation and interest in participation in other studies (0.577, p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Acknowledging researcher-centered attributes in creating supportive environments fosters interest in interdisciplinary research participation and essential for developing a collaborative academic ecosystem.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Supriya S, Shantanu Patil, Raghul Gandhi Venkatesan, Rajapriya Palanirasu, Bagavandas M (Author)
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