Motivating Factors of Unfunded Grant Applicants to Conduct Interdisciplinary Research: A Qualitative Study
Abstract
A general recognition of the complex problems existing in the world today has brought a societal understanding that one discipline may not possess the knowledge, skills, or tools to solve these problems on its own. As a result of this recognition, scientists have begun making concerted efforts towards working across disciplinary boundaries in an attempt to address complex problems by using multiple perspectives. Increasing support for interdisciplinary approaches can be seen through the creation of interdisciplinary agencies, foundations, and university programs. This study was conducted within the context of an interdisciplinary university program created at a southwestern U.S. Research I university in which interdisciplinary research teams were provided grant funding.
This qualitative study aimed to investigate the motivation of unfunded research team members to conduct interdisciplinary research as well as obtain more detailed information regarding the continued interdisciplinary work, or lack thereof, of participants who did not receive funding for their initial interdisciplinary project(s). In order to fulfill the purpose of this study, 10 semi-structured interviews were conducted with unfunded applicants of the university-sponsored interdisciplinary grants. The interviews were audio recorded and subsequently transcribed. The resulting interview transcriptions were analyzed using a thematic analysis.
The findings of this study are presented using a theoretical framework guided by Self-Determination Theory and Self-Directed Learning Theory. The results of this study indicated a participant’s underlying motivation to participate in ID research stems from a combination of both intrinsically and extrinsically motivating factors including problem-focused research and funding opportunities. The findings of this study also suggest the majority of the researchers took their unfunded grant proposals and repurposed them in order to apply for other funding opportunities. Participants also indicated it was detrimental to conduct interdisciplinary research until after securing a tenured position because some promotion and tenure guidelines do not favor interdisciplinary work. University culture and the origins of a participant’s interdisciplinary research involvement are also discussed as factors of motivation to conduct interdisciplinary research.
This study concludes with a discussion of related interdisciplinary motivation studies, the implications this study has on the field of Human Resource Development, and suggestions for future research.
Citation
Garr, Amanda (2021). Motivating Factors of Unfunded Grant Applicants to Conduct Interdisciplinary Research: A Qualitative Study. Doctoral dissertation, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /195787.