International Association of Educators   |  ISSN: 1308-9501

Original article | International Journal of Educational Researchers 2013, Vol. 4(1) 1-12

An Integral Approach To Interdisciplinary Research In Education

Şevket Benhür ORAL

pp. 1 - 12   |  Manu. Number: ijers.2013.001

Published online: March 01, 2013  |   Number of Views: 242  |  Number of Download: 835


Abstract

This is a theoretical paper on proposing a way to do interdisciplinary research in education. The main focus of the paper is the integral theory, which was formulated by the American philosopher Ken Wilber. In this paper, I aim to recapitulate Wilber’s framework of Integral Methodological Pluralism (IMP) and discuss how it can be used in educational research to further the aims of interdisciplinary approaches. I will focus on how IMP can be applied to develop a better understanding of education as inquiry in the context of Philosophy for Children (P4C) and similar programs. Despite its international success P4C has come under sustained criticism from myriad positions, from both left and right of the political spectrum. I argue that in order to bolster the claims of P4C that it helps develop both inquiry as well as communication and collaboration skills and provide evidence for its utility in mainstream schooling, a multi-perspective approach to research is necessary. Wilber’s integral approach to reality and research provides a suitable framework to this end. If we would like to do fruitful interdisciplinary research in education, we need to develop an integral frame of mind to tackle the complexities of educational phenomena. There is no doubt the field of educational research stands to benefit immensely from an interdisciplinary approach to research. Such an approach, however, is doomed to failure if it is not conceived in an integral way from the very beginning. An integral approach to research will dramatically enhance our understanding of educational phenomena and inform our own practice of teaching and learning.

Keywords: Integral theory, interdisciplinary research, philosophy for children, methodological pluralism


How to Cite this Article?

APA 6th edition
ORAL, S.B. (2013). An Integral Approach To Interdisciplinary Research In Education. International Journal of Educational Researchers, 4(1), 1-12.

Harvard
ORAL, S. (2013). An Integral Approach To Interdisciplinary Research In Education. International Journal of Educational Researchers, 4(1), pp. 1-12.

Chicago 16th edition
ORAL, Sevket Benhur (2013). "An Integral Approach To Interdisciplinary Research In Education". International Journal of Educational Researchers 4 (1):1-12.

References
  1. Barrow, W. (2010). Dialogic, participation and the potential for Philosophy for Children. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 5, 61-69. [Google Scholar]
  2. Davis, N. T. (2008, August). Integral Methodological Pluralism in Educational Research. Paper presented at the Integral Theory Conference, California, USA. [Google Scholar]
  3. Esbjörn-Hargens, S. (2009). An overview of integral theory: An all-inclusive framework for the 21 st century. Integral Institute, Resource Paper No. 1, 1-24. [Google Scholar]
  4. Ganeson, K. & Ehrich, L. C. (2009). Transition into high school: A phenomenological study. Educational Philosophy and Theory, 41, 60-78. [Google Scholar]
  5. Gregory, M. (2011). Philosophy for children and its critics: A Mendham dialogue. Journal of Philosophy of Education, 45, 199-218. [Google Scholar]
  6. Lipman, M., Sharp, A. M., & Oscanyan, F. S. (1980). Philosophy in the Classroom. Philadelphia:    Temple University Press. [Google Scholar]
  7. Oral, S. B. (2012). Can Deweyan pragmatist aesthetics provide a robust framework for the Philosophy for Children Programme?, Studies in Philosophy and Education, doi:    10.1007/s11217-012-9332-5. [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  8. Snow, B. A. (2007). Reflections of Integral Methodological Pluralism. Retrieved from http://integralwithoutborders.org/sites/default/files/resources/Snow_Reflections_09-23-07.pdf [Google Scholar]
  9. Strober, Myra H. (2010). Interdisciplinary Conversations: Challenging Habits of Thought. Palo Alto, CA, USA: Stanford University Press. [Google Scholar]
  10. Wilber, K. (1997). An integral theory of consciousness. Journal of Consciousness Studies, 4, 71-92. [Google Scholar]
  11. Wilber, K. (2003). Excerpt B: The many ways we touch—three principles helpful for any integrative approach. Retrieved from http://www.kenwilber.com/Writings/PDF/ExcerptB_KOSMOS_2003.pdf [Google Scholar]