Since the late 1990s，Interdisciplinary social science research is increasingly discussed in the academic literature。This is largely due to the strong interest in such research methods from policymakers and public institutions around the world，This has attracted the participation of many researchers。Interdisciplinary discussion of economics，In fact, it is also a discussion on the nature of its research object，A reflection on the concept of “economy” itself。Promoting interdisciplinary discussions in economics will help academic circles in various countries better define and integrate economics and other disciplines，Promote knowledge innovation，Coping with global challenges，Serving the development of all mankind。

The development history and current situation of interdisciplinary research in economics、The contribution of interdisciplinary research to solving global problems，And changes in the evaluation system for interdisciplinary research、Issues such as position adjustment and teaching method innovation，Our reporter interviewed Roger E, Emeritus Professor of Economics, University of Birmingham, UK. Backhouse (Roger E. Backhouse) and Chief of Staff, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)、Economist Sweta Chaman Saxena。

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《China Social Sciences Journal》: How open is economics to interdisciplinary research？What impact does this have on the quality of interdisciplinary research？

Backhouse:Over the past few decades，Interdisciplinary research in economics has undergone great changes。Economists have always been involved in interdisciplinary research，For example, British economist Kenneth Ewart Boulding、American political scientist and economist Herbert Alexander Simon、American economist George Akerlof (George A. Akerlof）。The Interdisciplinary Research Center is also a place for economists to collaborate with scholars from other fields in the social sciences，Includes regional research centers、Business schools and other problem-oriented research departments。However，Economists are generally critical of the “treatment” given to interdisciplinary research priorities by research management agencies and funding agencies，They believe that there is no value in artificially "preferring" interdisciplinarity simply for the sake of it。Also，Some economists are skeptical about the rigor of research in other disciplines of the social sciences，Although many of them know little about other subjects。

Recently，Some realistic changes have prompted economists to adopt a more open attitude towards interdisciplinary research。The connection between the field of experimental economics and psychology is strengthening，Environmental economists interact more with climate scientists，bet365 best casino games The development of public choice theory promotes exchanges between economists and political scientists。However，It is difficult to evaluate the quality of interdisciplinary research in general terms，Because there is a high degree of diversity within economics and other social science disciplines。For example，There is a significant difference between building mathematical models of business cycles and using experimental methods to develop poverty reduction policies，Political science theory and electoral data analysis are obviously different。Natural interdisciplinary collaboration seems to be more effective than externally promoted interdisciplinary collaboration，But there is also some excellent interdisciplinary research being done with support from private foundations and government agencies。

　Saxena:Economics has been an interdisciplinary field since its inception。Adam Smith、Famous economists such as John Mill are essentially political economists，Their discussions and research contain a lot of ethical and moral content。There are close connections between economics and other disciplines in social sciences。For example，Adam Smith’s most famous work, The Wealth of Nations, was published in 1776，And his other work "The Theory of Moral Sentiments" was published more than ten years ago (1759)。

However，As time goes by，Some influential economists have tried to turn economics into a very rigorous social science。They believe ethics are subjective、Overly emotional areas，Cannot be quantified or measured，Social Perspective、The psychological perspective will reduce economics to pseudoscience。Therefore，They separate economics from these disciplines。This separation reduces the quality and validity of economic research，Making economic analysis and theory more clear-cut，However，There are many gray areas in the economy in the real world。

With the increasing complexity of human society，Analyzing the problem from a single perspective of economics may not fully understand the root cause of the problem。In the absence of comprehensive knowledge，It is difficult to come up with practical policy solutions。At the same time，I don’t want to underestimate the challenges of conducting interdisciplinary research，Because of the methodologies of different disciplines、Differences between terminology and frameworks can cause misunderstandings。However，These challenges are not enough to prevent people from starting interdisciplinary thinking。By integrating insights from various disciplines，We can better respond to the multi-faceted challenges we currently face。In short，The complexity of today’s world will likely lead to more interdisciplinary research，This way you can find more innovative solutions。

　Interdisciplinary research promotes rational reflection in science

《China Social Sciences Journal》: The value of interdisciplinary research in academia、Is there a basic consensus on methods, etc.？

Backhouse:Overall，I don’t think there is a consensus among academics on the merits or appropriate research methods of interdisciplinary research。As far as my own discipline is concerned，The economics profession is now more accepting of non-traditional methods than it was thirty or forty years ago。2017，I co-authored the paper "The Age of the Applied Economist: The Transformation of Economics since the 1970s" with the French economic historian Beatrice Cherrier. : The Transformation of Economics since the 1970s)。We found，The reputation of empirical research is rising，Empirical research that is not oriented to economic theory is also becoming more accepted。Scholars’ openness to more diverse approaches，Making interdisciplinary collaboration easier，Although whether such cooperation is beneficial depends on many other factors。

　　Saxena:As mentioned before，Interdisciplinary research requires methods that integrate multiple disciplines、Theories and perspectives to solve highly complex problems。It can be said，More and more people agree that interdisciplinary research is crucial to solving complex real-world problems，And can bring innovative solutions，Use diverse viewpoints and perspectives to enable individuals to understand policies and then support policies。Of course，Evaluating interdisciplinary research can also be difficult，Because the evaluation standards and indicators of each discipline are different。

To promote interdisciplinary research，We can emphasize the use of systems thinking in analyzing complex problems，Encourage researchers to develop the ability to integrate knowledge from different disciplines、A new framework of theories and methods。Fundamentally speaking，This means recognizing the interconnectedness between disciplines and valuing different perspectives。This requires disciplines to remain flexible and integrate different methodologies and insights。

　　"China Social Sciences Journal": Is there a phenomenon that different disciplines and their researchers benefit unevenly from interdisciplinary research？

Backhouse:To answer this question，It is necessary to think about the subject itself。People often think that subject boundaries are obvious，And that’s not the case。Disciplines are artificially divided to some extent，Discipline boundaries evolved over a long period of time。One reason is that disciplines are distinguished by research objects，Also distinguished by research methods，The importance of these factors changes over time。Another reason is the diversity within the discipline。For example，Political science can be said to be a fragmented subject；Political Sociology、The existence of fields such as social psychology itself reflects the overlap between disciplines。This means，Interactions within disciplines aimed at bridging gaps between disciplines may be similar to interdisciplinary research。

Thinking about the discipline itself also raises other questions: How to evaluate benefits？Profit refers to solving intellectual puzzles，Provides helpful policy guidance，Promote career development？Even bet365 best casino games if these questions are answered，The disciplines themselves and interdisciplinary research are so diverse，I am afraid it is inappropriate to draw general conclusions。

　"Chinese Social Sciences Journal": Is the current interdisciplinary research too focused on applied research，Ignoring basic research？

Backhouse:For this question，It is also difficult to give a universally applicable answer。Hunter Crowther-Heyck, professor of history of science at the University of Oklahoma, USA, pointed out，In the United States，Major providers of social science research funding have shifted priorities，The focus shifts from interdisciplinary basic research to various disciplines and their applied research。Today，It can be said that interdisciplinary research focuses on practical problems rather than basic research。

I don’t want to comment on whether this shift is harmful。In terms of economics，There are two explanations。The article "The Concept of Applied Economics: A History Full of Ambiguities and Multiple Meanings" published in 2000 by Jeff Biddle, a professor of economics at the University of Notre Dame, and I Mentioned in Economics: A History of Ambiguity and Multiple Meanings，The concept of "applied economics" has many meanings。Economists often talk about “applied theory”，i.e., abstract but problem-specific theories，It’s worth noting，Whether it is considered applied research or basic research depends on one’s perspective。And，The development of economic theory or data analysis methods (which can be considered basic research) may result from attempts to solve practical problems，Because it is practical problems that expose the limitations of existing theories and methods。In addition，We have reason to question the usefulness of some non-applied research，Basic research is not necessarily better。

　Interdisciplinary research helps solve human problems

《Chinese Social Sciences Journal》: Can interdisciplinary research lead to discovery、Understanding and responding to global issues，Especially "wicked problems" provide unique perspectives and methods？

Saxena:The problems faced by human beings are multifaceted and complex，Depends on context and covers multiple areas。A single discipline cannot explain the root cause of the problem，Unable to provide policy solutions，Problems must be addressed from a multidisciplinary perspective。For example，Many people think that the global financial crisis is just an economic and financial problem，In fact it is not the case，It is also a crisis of integrity and ethics。The financial crisis can be viewed from an anthropological perspective，Because it is the result of human behavior after all。Canadian neuroscientist、Former Wall Street trader John M. Coates) pointed out，Testosterone and other hormones drive young male traders to make miscalculated and risky moves，Causing the bull market to turn into a bubble or even develop into a financial crisis。In the fiercely competitive financial market，The human body is competing、Adventure、Secret large amounts of testosterone when winning，Formation of "winning effect"。Victory leads to increased testosterone levels，Induces more confidence and risk-taking during bull markets，High-risk behavior ultimately caused the global economy to malfunction。On the other hand，In a bear market，The stress hormone cortisol causes the opposite reaction。Therefore，Risk appetite in financial markets is very unstable。Rely on economic analysis only，We can’t get such interesting ones、Human perspective。Increasing the participation of women and older men may help balance the above，Stabilize financial markets。Such solutions and suggestions are beyond the scope of conventional economic theory and assumptions。

Obviously，Wide adoption of behavioral science and ethics、Ethical and Social Perspectives，Helps dig deeper into the nature of the problem，Easier to find solutions。Of course，As I just said，There are challenges in integrating perspectives，Such as methodological differences - how to combine qualitative research results from anthropology with quantitative models from economics？Also，Politics、Social and economic factors may limit the implementation of solutions。For example，Despite the existence of solid scientific evidence，Climate policies may still face resistance from various stakeholders，Providing economic arguments is not enough，Or it is not enough to help people find the path to implement the plan。

　　Backhaus:Distinguishing between interdisciplinary research and multidisciplinary research helps answer this question。I talked about this in my book The History of the Social Sciences since 1945, co-edited with the French historian of science Philippe Fontaine。Interdisciplinary research involves sharing knowledge tools，Such as a certain theory or data analysis method，And build an integrated theory。Multidisciplinary research is when researchers from multiple disciplines study the same problem at the same time。Obviously，Some issues require research from more than one disciplinary perspective，But I don’t want to define whether this is interdisciplinary research or multidisciplinary research。

Take climate change, an important issue currently facing human beings, as an example。Tackling climate change clearly requires physics and biology，Otherwise people cannot understand the material world they live in，But social scientists also need to study how to change human activities to reduce carbon dioxide emissions。Such research must involve multiple disciplines，But does this mean researchers must work in interdisciplinary teams？Or they should use methods from their respective disciplines and follow each other's research results？Answer may vary depending on circumstances，Difficult to generalize。

　　Improving the interdisciplinary assessment and teaching system

"China Social Sciences Journal": What impact does interdisciplinary research have on the careers of scientific researchers？

Backhouse:Interdisciplinary research may have some impact on the careers of researchers，Especially in disciplines that rely on metrics (such as the number of articles published in reputable journals) for career advancement，such as economics。Interdisciplinary research using non-traditional methods，The possibility of being published in a well-known journal in the author’s original discipline is relatively small。Different disciplines attach different importance to different types of publications。For example，Monographs are much more important to historians than to economists。However，Publishing in other fields does not always pose a problem，It’s also difficult to generalize。

　Saxena:The potential impact of interdisciplinary research could be huge，Including generating innovative solutions、Expand research funding opportunities、Promote system changes, etc.。If the interdisciplinary research paradigm becomes the norm，Will cause changes in the academic profession globally，Because researchers need to develop a broader skill set and collaborate across disciplines。Interdisciplinary knowledge products and dissemination strategies will also appear，such as the publication of interdisciplinary research journals、Recognition of cross-disciplinary citations。The most important thing is，Interdisciplinary research will refine ethical considerations、Integrate and respect diverse perspectives、Promote collaboration，Thus increasing the scientific value of scientific research output。

　　"China Social Sciences Journal": From which educational stage should we start to improve scholars' interdisciplinary abilities？College students、Early Career Scholar、What are the focuses of senior scholars?？Pre-undergraduate students、Do non-academic professionals also need to improve their interdisciplinary abilities？

Saxena:Ideally，The cultivation of interdisciplinary abilities should start from the earliest stage of education，Preschool education begins。This is because interdisciplinary thinking can help students better understand complex problems，and think critically，Making connections between different disciplines，Preparation for entering society and employment。At school，Projects that require combining knowledge from different disciplines can develop students’ collaborative skills。In the process of my growth，Integrated biology is offered in high schools、Environmental Studies Course with Geography and Social Science Knowledge。Universities should offer more courses that integrate multidisciplinary content，such as environmental science、Public Health or Urban Studies，And a graduation project that solves real-life problems from an interdisciplinary perspective，If you need comprehensive architecture、Environmental Science、Sustainable Urban Planning and Design Project with Economics and Public Policy Knowledge。Schools should provide faculty with the resources and support needed to develop and teach such diverse courses。

Bet365 app download Universities and scientific research institutions should encourage early career scholars，As postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty applying for funding for interdisciplinary research projects、Publish results in interdisciplinary research journals，And provide them with multiple majors、Opportunities for joint appointments between departments。Senior scholars can advocate for increased interdisciplinary research，Includes mentoring junior faculty，Serves on the editorial board of an interdisciplinary research journal，Advises governments and NGOs on complex issues。My first job after graduate school was a tenure-track faculty position in a public policy school，Missed opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary research，This is the biggest regret in my life！

Pre-undergraduate students and non-academic professionals will also benefit from interdisciplinary capacity building。Pre-undergraduate students can be encouraged to join the debate club、Thinking in interdisciplinary ways in extracurricular activities such as arts integration projects。Non-academic professionals can learn more by attending interdisciplinary workshops and courses、Acquire relevant certificates and other methods for lifelong learning。For example，Professionals in the healthcare field may benefit from involvement in public health、Benefit from interdisciplinary training in social work and healthcare management content，To provide more comprehensive medical services。