The workshop on interdisciplinary research in the social sciences and humanities took place with the participation of many Vietnamese and French scientists. Approaching the topic from various perspectives and drawing on research experience in different fields, the 40 papers submitted to the workshop were concise and insightful sharing from experts on one of the necessary and inevitable research trends in the social sciences and humanities.
The workshop on interdisciplinary research in the social sciences and humanities took place with the participation of many Vietnamese and French scientists. Approaching the topic from various perspectives and drawing on research experience in different fields, the 40 papers submitted to the workshop were concise and insightful sharing from experts on one of the necessary and inevitable research trends in the social sciences and humanities.
In his report "Using Interdisciplinary Methods in Regional Literature Research," author Tran Thuc Viet (University of Social Sciences and Humanities) begins by providing a general definition of interdisciplinary research. This forms the basis for his in-depth analysis of the interdisciplinary approach to Southeast Asian regional literature. According to him, "interdisciplinary research is interdisciplinary research, a combination of subjects and disciplines." It is the synthesis of knowledge from many fields and disciplines, a process of linking and establishing reciprocal relationships, and the mutual influence and regulation between the methods and procedures of various experts. Therefore, interdisciplinary research differs from a specialized approach in that it uses the methods and procedures of multiple disciplines separately and independently.
From a psychological perspective, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Huu Thu defines an interdisciplinary approach in science as a way of organizing and conducting research that utilizes the viewpoints, knowledge, and research methods of a group of experts from different disciplines to solve a problem in the most comprehensive, objective, and effective way.
Furthermore, many other analyses also acknowledge that specialized sciences have made significant progress since the 18th century, but have also revealed shortcomings in the overall and systematic assessment of things and phenomena. Therefore, by the 20th century, the scientific community raised the issue of interdisciplinary research, recognizing that science needs to be open, interconnected, and integrated to achieve common goals in understanding the object of study.
One of the key points of agreement in the statements of scientists at this conference was the consensus that interdisciplinary research is an inevitable and necessary trend that increases the effectiveness of research activities.
Professor Nguyen Van Khanh (University of Social Sciences and Humanities) argues that the role and importance of interdisciplinary approaches in science stem from the need to solve problems in real life. The world is experiencing strong integration and globalization, meaning that every economic crisis, epidemic, or new scientific innovation has a significant impact on social life, the pace of development, and human security. Each invention in one scientific field will lead to changes and certain influences on other scientific disciplines. In many countries and governments, organizational structures are established according to inter-ministerial and multi-disciplinary mechanisms to provide the quickest and most accurate responses to economic and social changes. Clearly, a single scientific discipline, no matter how strong, cannot completely and comprehensively solve all practical problems. It is in this context that an interdisciplinary approach and interdisciplinary research in science become an inevitable trend and an advantage in overcoming the aforementioned limitations.
Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Hai Ke (Faculty of History - University of Social Sciences and Humanities) presented a scientific report at the conference to demonstrate that many famous research works by prominent figures in Vietnamese science have become "classics" thanks to their use of interdisciplinary research methods and the integration of interdisciplinary scientific knowledge.
He mentioned the story from 10 years ago when Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) established the Center for Vietnamese Intercultural and Historical Studies, headed by Professor Tran Quoc Vuong. This was VNU's declaration of interdisciplinary research through action. However, it wasn't only then that social scientists, including Vietnamese historians, began engaging in interdisciplinary research. Even earlier, a generation of master researchers, the "pioneering" figures of modern Vietnamese social science research in the fields of philosophy, history, and culture, such as Nguyen Van Huyen and Dao Duy Anh, had already effectively utilized interdisciplinary research in their works and were among the first to lay a solid foundation for this research method.
With vivid practical examples and a deep understanding of folklore, Associate Professor Nguyen Hai Ke demonstrated that the application of comprehensive knowledge and the way of viewing things and phenomena within the context of various relationships were deeply understood by our ancestors and expressed through a treasure trove of ancient proverbs and folk songs. All of this shows that interdisciplinary research thinking seems to have existed for a very long time and is deeply rooted in the life experiences of our people.
He affirmed: "Interdisciplinary research is a necessity and an inherent characteristic of all social sciences and humanities, as well as of the historical and cultural sciences of Vietnam. This characteristic is determined objectively and is the essence of the universal interconnectedness and relationship between things and phenomena."
The interdisciplinary approach in the research of specialized sciences was one of the topics presented by many delegates at this conference. Despite being from various professional fields such as Psychology, Culture, History, or Education, the authors shared their scientific arguments and practical experiences in using interdisciplinary research methods in their respective fields.
Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Hong Con (Faculty of Linguistics - University of Social Sciences and Humanities) discusses the reality and prospects of interdisciplinary research in Vietnamese linguistics. From the beginning of the 20th century to the present, Vietnamese linguistics, as a science focusing on the Vietnamese language, has achieved significant accomplishments in specialized research areas: Vietnamese phonetics, Vietnamese vocabulary, and the history of the Vietnamese language. In addition, to address theoretical and practical issues, Vietnamese linguists have expanded their research scope and achieved noteworthy initial results in interdisciplinary research fields such as psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, and applied linguistics. The report not only summarizes the achievements of interdisciplinary research in Vietnamese linguistics but also proposes several directions for continuing interdisciplinary research in Vietnamese linguistics in the future.
Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Huu Thu stated: "An interdisciplinary approach in psychological research is one of the most effective research trends in addressing current social issues." He also provided specific analyses of interdisciplinary approaches in psychological research across three scopes: individuals, groups, and society.
Researcher Nguyen Thi Thuong, in her study of cultural studies, views interdisciplinaryity not simply as a term indicating the interaction between sciences. According to her, in the case of cultural studies, interdisciplinaryity represents an inherent characteristic of this science. In other words, cultural studies itself is an interdisciplinary science.
Sharing the same viewpoint but applying it to educational science, researcher Trinh Van Minh's article presents analyses that highlight the multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary nature as fundamental attributes of educational science, thereby contributing to outlining the highly flexible boundaries between educational science and other sciences.
Author:thanhha
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