Students conducting cross-disciplinary, problem-based research face distinct challenges when trying to integrate knowledge from diverse disciplines and stakeholders. This course is one of a series of three courses focused on providing principles and techniques for conducting effective cross-disciplinary research.

The Knowledge Synthesis course focuses on exploring concepts and methods for integrating research from different disciplines and practice areas. The course includes sections on: a framework for planning and describing research integration; systemic thinking (viewing problems holistically, as systems, and examining interconnections); problem scoping, framing and boundary setting; and five classes of integrative methods. The course includes self-directed, reflective and group learning activities with assessment activities that can be customized by students to address their research areas directly.

The other 2-unit courses in the series are: Managing Uncertainty, which focuses on developing more sophisticated ways of understanding the unknown, so it can be managed and integrated more effectively in the research process, and Research Informing Policy and Practice, which focuses on developing skills for designing and communicating research in a way that enables it to more easily contribute to policy making and changes in the real world.

More information can be found on the Research Integration Courses web page.