Applying Bourdieu’s Field Theory to MLS Curricula Development

'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.'Bill Shankly (1974)

Dr. Charlotte Wien and Dr. Bertil F. Dorch

Agenda

– Intro

– Football and field theory for beginners

– Field theory applied on research libraries

• 20 years ago

• today

– Educational consequences research librarians

A football field

Field theory

• Field = any social entity

• Doxa = rules of the field

• Habitus = different positions in the field

• Capital

– Economic = monthly income

– Cultural = length of education

Field theory

Economic capital -

Cultural capital + Cultural capital -

Economic capital +

Field theory

Economic capital -

Cultural capital + Cultural capital -

Economic capital +

Most desirableposition

Least desirableposition

Field theory

Economic capital -

Cultural capital + Cultural capital -

Economic capital +

Most desirableposition

Least desirableposition

Socialist parties(populistic)

Social Democratic and socialist parties

Liberal parties

Liberal parties(populistic)

Another illustration

University xxx 1997

Economic capital -

Cultural capital + Cultural capital -

Economic capital +

Adjunct facultyPh.d-studentsResarch assistants

Full professorAssociate professorResearch librarianAssistant professor

?

secretariesJanitorsGuards

Faculty Staff

”University library of xxx 1997”

Economic capital -

Cultural capital + Cultural capital -

Economic capital +

Research librarians

Generalist librarians

Other library staff

Four reasons why

• Changes related to the academic field

– The doxa of the academic field have changed

– The RL does not meet his clients as often

• Changes related to the field of the RLs

– The GLs have professionalized themselves

– The responsibilities of RLs are changing

The Epic Split

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7FIvfx5J10

Reclaiming the prestigious position

• The Academic field– Re-introduction of assessments for tenure and

promotion

– Ensure that services are visible and valuable to the clients

• The Resaerch Library field– Stop feeding peanuts

– Combine domain specific knowledge with domain specific needs

Flexible Master program

• The flexible Master’s includes 60 ECTS • Can be completed over as long as six years.• Research librarian composes their own domain specific portfolio.• The study board stipulates

– A theoretical, practical subjects and methodological framework– Program must be completed with a Master’s dissertation

• The student may focus on i.e. – project management, – bibliometrics, – on data management,

• First students enroll fall semester 2017.