Measuring qualities needed for interdisciplinary work: The Intellectual Virtues for Interdisciplinary Research Scale...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Education
• Research Methodology

Background:

• Interdisciplinarity is crucial for addressing complex problems.
• Challenges in interdisciplinary collaboration may stem from a lack of specific intellectual character strengths.
• Assessing and cultivating these virtues in researchers remains an area needing development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a psychometric instrument for assessing intellectual virtues essential for interdisciplinary inquiry.
• To validate the instrument's structure and its relationship with researcher experience, productivity, and satisfaction.

Main Methods:

• Two studies were conducted: Study 1 involved exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and scale development, while Study 2 used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).
• The EFA identified four dimensions: intellectual empathy, open-mindedness/intellectual humility, intellectual perseverance, and curiosity.
• Convergent validity was assessed, and the new scale (Intellectual Virtues for Interdisciplinary Research Scale - IVIRS) was correlated with existing measures and researcher attributes.

Main Results:

• The EFA in Study 1 revealed a four-dimensional structure for intellectual virtues.
• The CFA in Study 2 confirmed this four-dimensional structure in a new sample.
• Researchers with higher interdisciplinary experience, productivity, and satisfaction exhibited greater levels of these intellectual virtues.

Conclusions:

• The IVIRS is a valid and reliable measure of intellectual virtues critical for successful interdisciplinary research.
• The findings support the link between intellectual virtues and positive outcomes in interdisciplinary collaboration.
• This research provides a foundation for designing interventions to foster these essential character strengths in scholars.