Briefly, Choi and Pak described the two as, "Multidisciplinarity draws on knowledge from different disciplines but stays within their boundaries. Interdisciplinarity analyzes, synthesizes and harmonizes links between disciplines into a coordinated and coherent whole. Transdisciplinarity integrates the natural, social and health sciences in a humanities context, and transcends their traditional boundaries."

Please, visit this thread on a more detailed look on the two. It has been thoroughly discussed here on Researchgate before. Good luck.

https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_is_difference_between_terms_of_multidisciplinary_transdisciplinary_and_cross_disciplinary_approaches

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17330451

Thank you Edmond

Hello Shahbaz Khan,

Generally speaking, interdisciplinary research refers to an approach to  research in which the individual researcher or  the team of collaborators from the same academic discipline  in a given research situation  integrate information, data, techniques, tools, and  theories from several  disciplines or fields of study in order to shed light on the   targeted research question. By Contrast,  a multidisciplinary mode of research almost invariably  involves  very  complex situations in which a multidisciplinary team from several academic disciplines cooperate together in order to solve the problem based on the evidence  obtained from multiple , external domains overshadowing it. For more information, the following links can provide you with a more concise answer. 

Best regards,

R. Biria

https://learningforsustainability.net/pubs/Transdisciplinary_Research_and_Sustainability.pdf

https://cordis.europa.eu/pub/ist/docs/fet/press-20.pdf

 I agree with Prof. Edmond.

Thank you.

Often both concepts are used similar. If you like you can differentiate between many different concepts (multi-) which are concerned with the same research question, and on the other hand, interdisciplinary co-working only a limited number of disciplines with open borders work together, for instance psychology and sociology and educational sciences.     

Multidisciplinary: Researchers work in parallel or sequentially from disciplinary-specific base to address common problem. People, theories, models, etc. kind of inform each other; however, things are not integrated. It is almost like outsourcing - you get a specialty, expertise, tool, etc. from outside; utilize it and done with it.

Interdisciplinary: Researchers work jointly but still form disciplinary-specific basis to address common problem. In ID research (1) you model micro-combinations; (2) relationships are defined as partnerships and collaborations instead of multidisciplinary contracting services; (3) a new community of knowers and a hybrid language emerges; (4) new insights, perspectives, hypotheses, and disciplinary relationships are generated; and (5) even an organizational framework might be developed. You integrate and have something new at the end. 

Although definitions vary between Anglo-saxon and European literatures, a convergence appears to be in the making: multidisciplinarity does indeed entail parallel research from different disc. perspectives, whereas interdisciplinarity entails also the integration of those different perspectives - which implies that feedback loops between different factors are taken into account. In addition, transdisciplinarity is by most authors understood as including extra-academic perspectives into the research project: the experiential knowledge and values/interests of patients, citizens,stakeholders in general.  In our Handbook of Interdisicplinary Research: Theory and Practice we further discuss and explain these definitions. I can also recommend the Association for Interdisciplinary Studies website for general info (About Interdisciplinarity: https://sites.google.com/a/ualberta.ca/rick-szostak/research/about-interdisciplinarity ). 

From all these contributions, I can deduce that the difference between multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary is that the actors in the former are limited to their discipline, they simply contribute ideas from the perspective of their disciplines and not necessarily for the purpose of synthesis; while in the later, there is the aim for a synthesis into an organized whole.

The similarity between the duo however, is that both involve a range of disciplines.

multidisciplinary refers to team member from different specialties who work together but each one remain within his/her discipline while interdisciplinary brings those team members to put their expertise and science together in one integrated plan. it is more condensed, specific and goal directed from all in one track.

I think I roughly agree with Machiel, althogh not everybody seems to see a clear difference between these two terms (see above). I am only astonished by his Anglo-saxon versus European opposition: was he already sure two year ago that Brexit will really happen? In that time, Britain was still an European country, was not it? Although, in the matter of fact, it never was truly European, with its left-hand traffic, separate taps for hot and cold water, and gilotine-like windows.

Article Systems Transdisciplinary Approach in the General Classifica...

Dear Shahbaz Khan , if you are not aware already, please do visit similar discussion room, governed by my dear friend Maria Bettencourt Pires. Fine answers and many resources were given there.

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Whats_the_difference_between_Interdisciplinarity_and_Multidisciplinarity#view=5e648e0c11ec73b10c5c8577

Dear Shahbaz Khan .

On that previous question, that I posted in January 2017, you'll find many outstanding contributes on this subject.

I have been working hard on this subject of the need for transdiciplinary research. Here's my latest contribute:

https://www.researchgate.net/deref/http%3A%2F%2Fwww2.ucp.pt%2Fresources%2FDocumentos%2FSCUCP%2FGaudiumSciendi%2FGaudiumSciendi_N17%2F07_Leonardo.pdf

On this tribute to Leonardo's 500th anniversary, you may read an acknowlegement note to the many contributes to this issue s, that helped buid the article.

Best wishes to your present question, that brings continuity to our common works.

There terms like intra,cross,multi,inter and transdisciplinary approaches in research. In my view all are involving more than one discipline or domain. If you want draw meaningful conclusions in research one has to follow these approaches. Persons with different domain knowledge apply their mind in research always there is a chance to draw meaningful conclusions

When people from different disciplines working together on a single research, each drawing on their disciplinary knowledge is called a multidisciplinary research whereas the integrating knowledge and methods from different disciplines, using a real synthesis of approaches is called Interdisciplinary research.

This is fine article which covers the issue of this question.

DISCIPLINARITIES: INTRA, CROSS, MULTI, INTER, TRANS

https://www.arj.no/2012/03/12/disciplinarities-2/

I agree that in multidisciplinary research, different expertise come together to solve a research problem, each contributing in their specific area of expertise; eg. in a Environmental Impact Assessment, the marine biologist describes impacts on the marine ecosystem, the oceanographer focusses on physical oceanography, etc. In transdisciplinary research, all ideas & concepts are integrated into the analysis & conclusions; eg. the marine biologist would discuss interactions amongst all components - ecological, physical, socio-economic, etc - & how they contribute to the impacts.

Although I have added an answer to this question back in 2017, I'd like to repeat the gist of that as since that moment the convergence of definitions of multi/inter/trans-disciplinarity has increased. In our own 2016 textbook Introduction to Interdisciplinary Research: Theory and Practice we used this figure to point out how integration is what distinguishes multidisciplinarity from interdisciplinarity: interdisciplinary approaches integrate disciplinary knowledge about a phenomenon, which is crucial when dynamic interactions between different causal factors are at stake. In transdisciplinary research (as understood by an increasing body of research) extra-academic stakeholders' insights and experiences are integrated in the knowledge production process as well - for example when patients' or citizens' perspectives are integrated. See my Book An introduction to interdisciplinary research

It is clear that it can be classified by a results oriented approach

Interdisciplinary research integrates perspectives and methods from two or more disciplines to investigate a topic or an issue. Multidisciplinarity draws on knowledge from different disciplines but stays within their boundaries.

Dear Md. Mostafijur Rahman , always bring the original citation in order to avoid possible plagiarism! Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada has made this content.

https://www.qualityresearchinternational.com/glossary/interdisciplinary.htm

From my point of view, multidisciplinary research mean, different expertise from different discipline come together to do a research, each contributing in their specific field of expertise; eg. in a smart agriculture research experts in ICT, Biological sciences, Agriculture and environmental sciences shired the same project and each of them do his/her duties.

In simple words, Multidisciplinary means the collection of data about the main research issue, However Interdisciplinary means the methods which we use to collect the data.

Interdisciplinary research may concern, among others, two different scientific disciplines related to each other in a joint research project, in one scientific research process, in creating a common, one scientific theory, etc. On the other hand, multidisciplinary scientific research occurs when many, e.g. several different disciplines and fields of science and knowledge are connected related in one joint research project.

Greetings,

Dariusz Prokopowicz

In addition to my previous answers to this question above in this thread, you can now also read this recently published chapter on interdisciplinary city methods and the challenge of integration.

In my view, and from such collaborations, interdisciplinary refers to two disciplinary areas working together e.g. engineering and medicine or media and political science; while multidisciplinary research involves multiple or more disciplinary areas coming together.

Thank you Prof. Edmond Sanganyado, your information helps me be aware on my RMUTP's initiative curriculum combining three fields together: business, liberal arts, and multi-media technology for Thailand now.

An interdisciplinary community or project or approach is made up of people from multiple or various different disciplines and professions who are engaged in creating and applying new knowledge as they work together as equal stakeholders in addressing a common challenge. The term interdisciplinary approach refers to the interaction of two or more disciplines. This approach is now being used in teaching as well as research activities.

Multidisciplinary education is a unique educational approach that allows the students to learn explore distinct subject or curriculum from various disciplines. More flexibility is there And it helps students to develop pragmatic attitude.

“Multidisciplinary academics may be at a disadvantage when they are evaluated by their peers. And what is even more striking is that the better their scientific track record, the greater that disadvantage is,” explain management academics Riccardo Fini, Laura Toschi, Julien Jourdan and Markus Perkmann on why multidisciplinarity is a risky career move for scholars...

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/blog/our-study-shows-multidisciplinarity-risky-career-move?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=editorial-daily

I agree with Edmond Sanganyado for his answer and I best wishes to your present question.

It’s time to start tracking interdisciplinary research

Times Higher Education is starting a new stream of data collection...

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/its-time-start-tracking-interdisciplinary-research?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=rankings-monthly&spMailingID=23746307&spUserID=MTAxNzcwNzE4MTk2NAS2&spJobID=2152387116&spReportId=MjE1MjM4NzExNgS2

The research landscape today embodies a duality: the depth of specialized expertise and the potential of interdisciplinary collaboration. Both approaches have their merits, yet the synergy between them holds the promise of pushing the boundaries of knowledge and innovation. Amidst this clash of specialization and collaboration, the question echoes: Can we sculpt a future where the depth of specialized expertise resonates with the diversity of interdisciplinary thought, reshaping the academic landscape and driving research advancement?

https://scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2023/08/29/guest-post-the-paradox-of-hyperspecialization-and-interdisciplinary-research/?informz=1&nbd=6f03e560-5431-4744-8998-e00223ee7a82&nbd_source=informz