Skip to main content
Log in

Disciplinary cultures and the moral order of studying – A case-study of four Finnish university departments

  • Published:
Higher Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Based on qualitative data gathered in one Finnishuniversity, the article examines disciplinary culturesof four study fields: computer science, libraryscience and informatics, public administration, andsociology and social psychology. It is suggested thatthe core of each discipline can be conceptualized asa moral order that defines the basic beliefs, valuesand norms of the local culture. Following this frameof reference, the analysis of students' accountsdemonstrates essential differences regarding how thevirtues and vices of studying are understood and whatkinds of social identities are constructed indifferent fields. The implications of the results forthe quality assessment and the development ofuniversity teaching are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aittola, T. (1992). Uuden opiskelijatyypin synty (The birth of new student type) Jyväskylä: Jyväskylä studies in education, psychology and social research 91.

  • Alasuutari, P. (1995). Researching Culture: Qualitative Method and Cultural Studies. London: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bauer, H.H. (1990). 'Barriers against interdisciplinarity: Implications for studies of science, technology, and society (STS)', Science, Technology, & Human Values 15(1), 105–119.

    Google Scholar 

  • Becher, T. (1994). 'The significance of disciplinary differences', Studies in Higher Education 19(2), 333–346.

    Google Scholar 

  • Becher, T. (1989). Academic Tribes and Territories. Milton Keynes: The Society for Research into Higher Education & Open University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Becher, T. (1987). 'The disciplinary shaping of the profession', in Clark, B.R. (ed.), The Academic Profession. Berkeley: University of California Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Becher, T. and Kogan, M. (1992). Process and Structure in Higher Education. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergenhenegouwen, G. (1987). 'Hidden curriculum in the university', Higher Education 16(5), 535–543.

    Google Scholar 

  • Biglan, A. (1973a). 'The characteristics of subject matter in different academic areas', Journal of Applied Psychology 57(2), 195–203.

    Google Scholar 

  • Biglan, A. (1973b). 'Relationship between subject matter characteristics and the structure and output of university departments', Journal of Applied Psychology 57(3), 204–213.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boys, C.J., Brennan, J., Henkel, M., Kirkland, J., Kogan, M. and Youll, P. (1988). Higher Education and the Preparation for Work. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, B.R. (1998). Creating Entrepreneurial Universities. Guildford: IAU Press & Pergamon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, B.R. (1987). The Academic Life. Princeton: The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, B.R. (1986). The Higher Education System. Berkeley: University of California Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Entwistle, N. and Tait, H. (1990). 'Approaches to learning, evaluations of teaching, and preferences for contrasting academic environments', Higher Education 19, 169–194.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eskola, A., Kihlström, A., Kivinen, D., Weckroth, K. and Ylijoki, O.-H. (1988). Blind Alleys in Social Psychology. Amsterdam: Elsevier Science Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, C. (1988). Language People. Milton Keynes: The Society for Research into Higher Education & Open University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gellert, C. (1992). 'Faculty research', The Encyclopedia of Higher Education 3, 1634–1641.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibbons, M., Limoges, C., Nowotny H., Schwartzman, S., Scott, P. and Trow, M. (1994). The New Production of Knowledge. London: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenwood, J.D. (1994). Realism, Identity and Emotion. London: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harré, R. (1983a). 'Identity projects', in Breakwell, G. (ed.), Threatened Identities. NewYork: John Wiley & Sons ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harré, R. (1983b). Personal Being. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haselgrove, S. (Ed.) (1994). The Student Experience. Buckingham: The Society for Research into Higher Education & Open University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huber, L. (1992). 'Editorial', European Journal of Education 27(3), 193–199.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huber, L. (1989). 'Teaching and learning-students and university teachers', European Journal of Education 24(3), 271–288.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kleinman, S. (1983). 'Collective matters as individual concerns. Peer culture among graduate students', Urban Life 12(2), 203–225.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knorr-Cetina, K. (1997). 'What scientists do', in Ibáñez, T. and Íñiguez, L. (eds.), Critical Social Psychology. London: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kolb, D.A. (1985). 'Learning styles and disciplinary differences', in Chickering, A. (ed.), The Modern American College. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Macintyre, A (1987). After Virtue. A study in moral theory. London: Duckworth.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moses, I. (1990). 'Teaching, research and scholarship in different disciplines', Higher Education 19, 351–375.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheppard, C. and Gilbert, J. (1991). 'Conceptions of teaching held by academic teachers', Higher Education 24, 93–111.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shotter, J. (1994). Conversational Realities. London: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slaughter, S. and Leslie, L. (1997). Academic Capitalism. Baltimore & London: The Johns Hopkins University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Squires, G. (1990). First Degree. Buckingham: The Society for Research into Higher Education & Open University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, C. (1992). Sources of the Self. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, K. (1990). Gender and Subject in Higher Education. Buckingham: The Society for Research into Higher Education & Open University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Traweek, S. (1988). Beamtimes and Lifetimes. Cambridge & London: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vahala, M.E. and Winston, R.B. (1994). 'College classroom environments: disciplinary and institutional-type differences and effects on academic achievement in introductory courses', Innovative Higher Education 19(2), 99–121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vroeijenstijn, T.I. and Acherman, H. (1990). 'Control oriented versus improvement oriented quality assesment', in Goedegebuure, L., Maassen, P. and Westerheijden, D. (eds.), Peer Review and Performance Indicators. Utrech: Lemma.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wittrock, B. (1985). 'Dinosaurs or dolphins? Rise and resurgence of the research-oriented university', in Wittrock, B. and Elzinga, A. (eds.), The University Research System. Stockholm: Almqvist & Wiksell International.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ylijoki, O.-H. (1998). Akateemiset heimokulttuurit ja noviisien sosialisaatio (Academic tribal cultures and the socialization of novices). Tampere: Vastapaino.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ziman, J. (1996). ' “Postacademic science”: constructing knowledge with networks and norms', Science Studies 9(1), 67–80.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ylijoki, OH. Disciplinary cultures and the moral order of studying – A case-study of four Finnish university departments. Higher Education 39, 339–362 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003920230873

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003920230873

Navigation