Quiz 2 Question 1 What decisions have you made in the last 48 hours?

(These could be major life decisions or more mundane decisions such as what to eat for lunch or what to wear to work?) List at least three, for each decision, (a) examine what your purpose was, (b) what assumptions you made, (c) how you justified your decision, (d) what biases might have affected your interpretation of relevant evidence, and lastly (e) what information you ultimately integrated to come to that decision. 1. Bring my lunch to work a. My purpose was to save money. b. My assumption was that I wouldnt have enough money to pay my bills I didnt bring in lunch. c. I justified my decision by choosing to be responsible and instead of being lazy and taking advantage of the convenience of the stores around my work place that serve food. d. The biases that affected my decision is that I really didnt care for the other restaurant options I had. e. The information I integrated was my preference for what I cooked at home and unwillingness to spend another dime until after the first. 2. Not to call my doctor a. My purpose was to put it off until a later date. b. My assumption was that I wouldnt have enough money to pay my bills if I visited the doctors. c. I justified my decision by telling myself it will get done at a later date. d. The biases affecting my decision was being unenthused about a bus ride to Virginia Beach and Ive never seen this particular doctors so I wanted to make sure he is who I want to go see. e. The information I integrated was that I really need to see a doctor despite my personal circumstances, that I hardly have free time to make the trip, and as soon as I pay my bills I will set aside money for the doctor. 3. Go to the ATM on campus instead of by my home. a. My purpose was to save time and frustration. b. My assumption was that the ATM by my home was still out of order. c. I justified my decision by telling myself I need to make a transaction today not tomorrow. d. The biases affecting my decision was I didnt want to wait outside in the cold for my bus for forty minutes so I took up time walking to the ATM instead of waiting. e. The information I integrated is that ATMs are very convenient and I spend a lot of unnecessary time commuting.

Question 2 This is a multiple part question; it will take time. You must read, analyze, and then apply assessment. Using the rubric below, provide an assessment of the following reflective statements written by students and practitioners of Interdisciplinarity. Think of your own work and process as you answer. Be descriptive, provide clear reasoning for your responses and identify support from class readings, your own experiences and the reading itself. The Broad Model Rubric: Reflect on how using an interdisciplinary approach has enlarged your understanding of the problem. After you read each essay excerpt; (1) you need to state for each rubric component (1-4) if YES, the author has done the component (and provide evidence, i.e., highlight the sentence for support; if NO, the author has not demonstrated the component (provide evidence of it missing and provide a possible solution; or if INCOMPLETE or UNCLEAR, state that and provide a reasonable answer to which way the author is leaning. (2) You are to also state if the author reveals any (or no) prior bias concerning her subject. Rubric Components: 1. The author explains how an interdisciplinary approach challenged her bias on the problem. 2. The author explains how an interdisciplinary approach has influenced her perception of disciplinary expertise. 3. The author explains how an interdisciplinary approach has enlarged her understanding of the problem as a whole. 4. The author explains how an interdisciplinary approach is applicable beyond the classroom. Reading A (Title: "An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Evolutionary Origin of Language" (2012) by Ria Van der Lecq. In this interdisciplinary study we have developed a comprehensive theory explaining the primary function of language in an evolutionary framework. The original aim of this project was to integrate insights on the origin and development of language, but a preliminary literature search revealed that this would be overly ambitious. Many scientists have studied language for many years, with the result that the literature is enormous. The focus on the question WHY we talk made the task manageable... According to our new theory, the most likely function for which language emerged is social bonding, but, once the possibility of linguistic communication had emerged, its primary function may have differed for different individuals, as it does today. Language is used for the exchange of very complicated thoughts, but it also serves as a "bonding" instrument in various contexts, social as well as political. Further study might fruitfully examine the role of reciprocal altruism in the emergence of speech.

The focus of this study was on one aspect of the origin of language, the question of WHY we talk. There is, however, a rich diversity of perspectives regarding all aspects of language, its nature, its origin (how and when) and its development. Interdisciplinarians interested in language can use their integrative skills to create more comprehensive understandings of all [its] aspects. Reading B: Nurse Burnout: An Integrative Approach to a Multidimensional Problem (n.d.) by K. A. McKay To approach the problem of nurse burnout from just a single discipline would unjustly limit the research findings to a one dimensional perspective. The purpose of integrating the different disciplinary approaches is to come to a new understanding, and therefore, a new perspective in which to formulate solid solutions. Hospital administrators and nursing supervisors must be able to understand that sociologically, the nursing environment plays a big part in the negative psychological effects it can create. This includes understanding the day-to-day critical decision-making process nurses endure and the impact of the personal responsibility involved in making ethical choices. Because of the problem of nurse burnout is viewed from different disciplines, the various perspectives have allowed for a more comprehensive and integrative approach to understanding the causes, without the constraints of disciplinary boundaries. By first examining and then integrating the sociological, psychological and ethical implications behind burnout, the big picture becomes much clearer allowing for a comprehensive understanding of how and why burnout occurs. Answer: Reading A 1. Yes, the author explains how an interdisciplinary approach challenged her bias on the problem. Initially she assumed that she could use a very broad subject, the origin and development of language, but she realized the limitations this posed. She refined her research problem to focus on "WHY we talk". She clearly recognized her bias on wanting offer added insight on a broad topic. Nonetheless, she willingly utilized the interdisciplinary process, which draws from the scientific method, by editing or reanalyzing as its deemed necessary. In actuality, her choice to recognize her bias will enable her to increase the validity of her research since it's now more specific. 2. Yes, the author explains how an interdisciplinary approach has influenced her perception of disciplinary expertise. She does not do it thoroughly, but she does mention that "language is used for the exchange of very complicated thoughts" which suggests that intricate mental processes that are occurring rely on psychological expertise. In addition, she states "it also serves as a bonding instrument in various contexts, hinting at the inclusion of a sociological perspective. In combination with Linguistics, Psychology, and Sociology her proposed research addresses multiple disciples and makes an effort to integrate the frameworks. 3. No, the author does not explain how an interdisciplinary approach has enlarged her understanding of the problem as a whole. Her goal is to produce research that helps to provide a

comprehensive understanding of figuring out why humans talk. However, she does not offer any suggestion of the practical implications to society. She could have linked her research to something tangible like understanding why we talk could lead to increasing the level and effectiveness of communication in various areas: the classroom, between partners, in the work place, during foreign policy making and etc. 4. No, the author does not explain how an interdisciplinary approach is applicable beyond the classroom. She makes note of its future application but does not provide a detailed explanation. Reading B 1. Yes, the author explains how an interdisciplinary approach challenged her bias on the problem. She immediately states that she cannot favor her discipline and is relying on other perspective to give substance to her research findings 2. Yes, the author explains how an interdisciplinary approach has influenced her perception of disciplinary expertise. She recognizes nurses burnout is a concept that hospital administrators and nurse supervisions must be fully aware of the sociologically that the nursing environment may create negative psychological effects due to the obligation and accountability nurses face.

3. Yes, the author explains how an interdisciplinary approach has enlarged her understanding of the problem as a whole. She recognizes there is a bigger picture and this problem cannot be addressed in a satisfying way without the use of an integrative approach. 4. Yes, the author explains how an interdisciplinary approach is applicable beyond the classroom. She explicitly describes how her research is applicable to field work and I think her research should be touched upon during formal instruction as a way to prepare nursing students on how to reduce the problem of nurse burnout. Question 4 The following scenario is based on an actual situation in which newly laid-off employees and their union leaders attempted to save their jobs in the supermarket industry in Big City, USA. They planned to pool their resources (e.g., personal savings and 401K retirement plan money) and apply for a large bank loan in order to purchase the bankrupt supermarket where they had worked, and manage it themselves. At the time, a team of academics from a nearby university came together to conduct research on job-saving strategies in areas that were experiencing population loss and economic decline, and decided to focus on this particular experiment in "grassroots capitalism." 1. Identify the disciplinary perspectives that would enable the academic team to develop the most comprehensive understanding of the situation facing the laid-off employees?

2. How would each of these perspectives illumine the situation as a whole? 3. What primary strength and limitation would each perspective bring to the subject? In an essay answer the above three questions as they relate to the scenario. Proofread for spelling, grammar, accuracy in content, clarity of thought and make reference Answer: 1. The disciplinary perspectives are as followed: Business, Psychology and Sociology 2. Firstly sufficient knowledge in Entrepreneurship and general Business is necessary. Even though companies may be look very different, have various target audiences and sell diverse products, they operate on known business models and techniques. What sets each company a part is the execution of their presentation, marketing research and development and quality. One cannot take for granted the psychological application of such a project. The employees who have invested in the supermarket have never taken on such a project. They will be required to think clear and concisely about their new business and have many decision to make. The research should play close attention to their mental processes and behaviors during the companies start up because it will shed light on what thoughts and behaviors lead to certain consequences whether positive or negative. Lastly, Sociology is the underlining perspective that will offer insight and explanations on how they organized their business. Businesses are like communities. Everyone has a role and function and must work together to accomplish a common goal. 3. The primary strength Business serve is to maintain the probability of the company so the investors will make a return on their investment. The researcher will be able to analyze how they succeeded of failed. The weakness is that finances are not all the aid a businesss longevity. The primary strength of Psychology is to be able to record what behaviors or ideas developed the company. Its limitation is being able to perceive the behaviors and ideas and not oversee them. The primary strength of Sociology is that it will reveal the structure of the business and primary function of each level. The weakness is having to assume being able to access the smaller structures as methodically as the larger ones.