40 Years of Interdisciplinary Research: Phases, Origins, and Key Turning Points (1981-2020)

TL;DR

This paper analyzes 40 years of interdisciplinary research evolution, identifying key phases, trends, and turning points, revealing shifts in dominant disciplines and the increasing role of engineering and environmental sciences.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive historical analysis of IDR's development, categorizing its phases and identifying critical years for interdisciplinary growth.

Findings

IDR evolved through three distinct phases from 1981 to 2020.

Medicine has been the leading discipline in IDR throughout the period.

Engineering and Environmental sciences are emerging as new contributors.

Abstract

This study examines the historical evolution of interdisciplinary research (IDR) over a 40-year period, focusing on its dynamic trends, phases, and key turning points. We apply time series analysis to identify critical years for interdisciplinary citations (CYICs) and categorizes IDR into three distinct phases based on these trends: Period I (1981-2002), marked by sporadic and limited interdisciplinary activity; Period II (2003-2016), characterized by the emergence of large-scale IDR led primarily by Medicine, with significant breakthroughs in cloning and medical technology; and Period III (2017-present), where IDR became a widely adopted research paradigm. Our findings indicate that IDR has been predominantly concentrated within the Natural Sciences, with Medicine consistently at the forefront, and highlights increasing contributions from Engineering and Environmental disciplines as a new trend. These insights enhance the understanding of the evolution of IDR, its driving factors, and the shifts in the focus of interdisciplinary collaborations.