A voyage around the ideological islands of higher education research. Issue 1 (2nd January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Macfarlane, Bruce
• Is Part Of: Higher education research & development. Volume 41:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 107
• Page End: 115
• Publication Date: 2022-01-02
• Subjects: Ideology -- publication -- research field -- higher education studies; Education, Higher -- Australia -- Periodicals; 378.94
• DOI: 10.1080/07294360.2021.2002275
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0729-4360

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This paper explores the ideological orientations of higher education (HE) researchers in the form of a visual map, including three principal 'islands' – Pragmatists Peninsula, Reformists Rock and Dystopians Retreat. The development of the HE research field in general, illustrated by the last 40 years of scholarship within Higher Education Research & Development in particular, is explained in relation to this metaphorical seascape. The analysis identifies a number of shifting publication patterns, such as the gradual radicalisation of HE scholarship, a growing dystopian literature and the reorientation of pragmatist research interests from micro- and departmental-level concerns to meso-level work directed at strategic, university-wide agendas.