Table 2.

Capstone project designed to apply of core competencies for interdisciplinary research. You will work in interdisciplinary groups of two to four people to identify an important health or health care problem that warrants research, assess gaps in what is currently known, and articulate how a research study might be designed to address the problem, first from individual disciplinary points of view and then with an interdisciplinary approach. Each group will also present its findings in class.

Sections of Paper
(1) Describe an important health or health care problem, including, for example, its prevalence, ­severity, costs, impact on society, etc. (Examples: pediatric obesity, health disparities, hypertension, antibiotic resistance, behavior change in patients or health care ­providers, long‐term care, tobacco cessation)
(2) Identify gaps in our current understanding of this problem, that is, what is not known that would help to address or add important information needed to resolve the problem.
(3) Each member of the group will, from his/her specific discipline, develop at least one research aim or question to address this ­problem. Describe the theoretical underpinnings associated with this aim (i.e., what is your disciplinary perspective).­
(4) Develop one single integrative research aim or question that might emanate from an interdisciplinary perspective.
(5) Describe the research team that you would ultimately assemble, your rationale for these selections, and what role each member would play.
(6) Finally, describe potential challenges that might emerge during your project, and the steps that you would take to maximize the potential for a successful interdisciplinary project.