Varying Perceptions of Disciplinary Cultures: The Roles of Faculty Identities and Professional Experiences

Abstract

Studies about disciplinary differences often assume that aspects of disciplinary cultures are experienced or perceived consistently across group members despite the socially constructed nature of disciplinary cultures. Becher’s (1989) and Biglan’s (1973a,b) seminal works on academic disciplines proposed the dimensions meant to capture dynamics that distinguished disciplinary cultures. With nearly 700 responses from faculty in 98 disciplines, this study explores faculty perceptions of cultural aspects of their discipline and how faculty members’ social identities and professional experiences relate to how they perceive their disciplinary cultures and how their perceptions relate to their peers.