Before reading this week’s material, I understood that Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) involved integrating knowledge from multiple disciplines to solve complex problems. I recognized its importance in fields like cybersecurity, where threats often require expertise in technology, psychology, and law. However, I hadn’t fully considered the structured process behind IDS or how it addresses gaps between disciplines. One concept that stood out to me was the idea that disciplines have limitations, and IDS helps bridge those gaps by combining insights. The reading emphasized that while disciplines offer specialized knowledge, real-world problems often don’t fit neatly into one area of study. I appreciate how the focus on combining different viewpoints in IDS encourages innovation and a deeper understanding. I find IDS helpful because cybersecurity involves more than just technology; it also includes ethics, law, psychology, and business. By learning to integrate these different perspectives, I can be more effective in my field and better anticipate security risks related to both technology and human behavior. From this course, I hope to strengthen my ability to connect different disciplines and apply interdisciplinary thinking to cybersecurity challenges. I also want to improve my critical thinking and research skills to tackle problems more comprehensively. Some questions I have would be 1. How can interdisciplinary research be organized so it doesn’t become too broad or lose focus? 2. What are the best ways to combine disciplines that usually conflict with each other?
Response Textbook Question: The strongest reason to support a “both/and” approach instead of an “either/or” approach is that individual disciplines offer depth, while IDS provides a wider view and helps connect ideas. IDS doesn’t replace disciplines, it improves them by filling in gaps and encouraging teamwork. For example, in cybersecurity, computer science gives us technical skills, but psychology helps us understand hacker behavior, and legal studies guide cybercrime policies. If we only focused on one discipline, we might overlook important connections. So, interdisciplinary supports traditional disciplines and leads to better solutions for complex problems.