Editorial Introduction to Homicide Studies Special Issue: Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Approaches to the Study of Homicide
Published date | 01 November 2023 |
DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/10887679231188359 |
Author | April M. Zeoli |
Date | 01 November 2023 |
Subject Matter | Special Issue Editor’s Introduction |
https://doi.org/10.1177/10887679231188359
Homicide Studies
2023, Vol. 27(4) 407 –410
© 2023 SAGE Publications
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DOI: 10.1177/10887679231188359
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Special Issue Editor’s Introduction
Editorial Introduction to
Homicide Studies Special
Issue: Interdisciplinary and
Transdisciplinary Approaches
to the Study of Homicide
April M. Zeoli1
As one of the leading causes of death for Americans aged 1 through 44 (Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, 2023), homicide is a societal problem studied by
numerous academic disciplines. For example, criminological, sociological, and psy-
chological theories posit why individuals commit homicide and what conditions
increase the risk of homicide commission; the public health field is interested in reduc-
ing mortality and morbidity and population-level interventions to do so; social work-
ers work with at-risk individuals in homicide prevention and healing from traumatic
events; nurses and other health care providers may identify those at risk and work to
reduce that risk; and criminal justice practitioners are part of the societal response to
homicide commission. Each discipline has made important contributions to the study
and understanding of homicide, homicide prevention, and the consequences of homi-
cide, but due to the siloed nature of academia, these contributions may not be well-
known to researchers across disciplines. It is likely that at least some of these theories
and research findings may be largely unknown to researchers in other disciplines
whose work may benefit from their incorporation.
Fortunately, researchers have started to recognize that some of the most pressing
social problems of our time are multifaceted and require a holistic understanding to
better inform solutions. As a result, there has been a movement toward interdisciplin-
ary and transdisciplinary work recently. The differences between these types of
research are based on their integration and use of disciplines (Choi & Pak, 2006).
Multidisciplinary research incorporates the learning and perspectives of different dis-
ciplines, but the contribution of each discipline remains within its boundaries.
1University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
Corresponding Author:
April M. Zeoli, Department of Health Management & Policy, University of Michigan School of Public
Health, Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention, University of Michigan, M3164 SPHII, 1415 Washington
Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
Email: azeoli@umich.edu
1188359HSXXXX10.1177/10887679231188359Homicide StudiesZeoli
other2023
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