Capturing habitus: theory, method and reflexivity

Costa, C., Burke, C. and Murphy, M. (2019) Capturing habitus: theory, method and reflexivity. International Journal of Research and Method in Education, 42(1), pp. 19-32. (doi: 10.1080/1743727X.2017.1420771)

[img]
Preview
Text
154274.pdf - Accepted Version

657kB

Abstract

Bourdieu’s career long endeavour was to devise both theoretical and methodological tools that could apprehend and explain the social world and its mechanisms of cultural (re)production and related forms of domination. Amongst the several key concepts developed by Bourdieu, habitus has gained prominence as both a research lens and a research instrument useful to enter individuals’ trajectories and ‘histories’ of practices. While much attention has been paid to the theoretical significance of habitus, less emphasis has been placed on its methodological implications. This paper explores the application of the concept of habitus as both theory and method across two sub-fields of educational research: graduate employment and digital scholarship practices. The findings of this reflexive testing of habitus suggest that bridging the theory-method comes with its own set of challenges for the researcher; challenges which reveal the importance of taking the work of application seriously in research settings.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Murphy, Dr Mark
Authors: Costa, C., Burke, C., and Murphy, M.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > School of Education > Robert Owen Centre
College of Social Sciences > School of Education > Educational Leadership & Policy
Journal Name:International Journal of Research and Method in Education
Publisher:Taylor & Francis
ISSN:1743-727X
ISSN (Online):1743-7288
Published Online:11 January 2018
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor and Francis Group
First Published:First published in International Journal of Research and Method in Education 42(1): 19-32
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record