Respond to students
Reflection 3
Respond to the question on p. 100 #3.3 of the Repko & Szostak text in detail. Here’s the question:
“The chapter presented criteria for determining if a problem, topic, or question is researchable in an interdisciplinary sense. Which of the following meets one or more of these criteria?
- The psychological dimension of Alzheimer’s disease
- The loss of manufacturing jobs to China
- The effects of closing fine arts programs in public schools”
Respond to student 1 (Jennifer)
The psychological dimension of Alzheimer’s disease – this is a topic. It is about one specific part of Alzheimer’s disease. There isn’t a researchable question posed that would be able to be researched.
The loss of manufacturing jobs to China – this is a problem. The sentence simply states that there are loss of jobs in a specific country. It doesn’t pose any sort of question to research.
The effects of closing fine arts programs in public schools – this is a researchable question. The situation posed asks the impact of losing fine arts programs in schools. The question is specific to both only fine arts programs and public schools. I feel like this makes the topic narrow enough to research since there is a possibility that the impact would be different if other programs are removed and if that was to happen in private schools. According to STEPS there are two disciplines involved: fine arts and education. It is surely a complex problem that also needs multiple perspectives to resolve. There is clearly a fiscal aspect to this particular problem as well that is a potential cause. Lastly, since it is an ongoing problem it is worth addressing and trying to discover what we can about the effects.
Respond to student 2 (Anthony)
The psychological dimension of Alzheimer’s disease is too specific. It is based on only the “psychological dimension”. Multiple disciplines are not necessary or justified.
The loss of manufacturing jobs to China. No real question is posed by this. To broad of a statement to be a ID research question.
The effects of closing fine arts programs in public schools. This poses a question that has importance and effect on people that needs to be resolved. It is neither to broad or narrow and combines fine arts with public schools to bring multiple disciplines (Arts and Education). This statement is researchable in an interdisciplinary sense per Repko & Szostak criteria.