Research in the new Christian Academies: perspectives from Bourdieu

By Elizabeth Green
View profile for: Dr. Beth Green

This chapter argues that Bourdieu’s theory of education, reproduction and distinction is a powerful tool for the analysis of faith-based education. The example of research in faith-based settings provides the reader with an important indication of how current educational research is broadening the traditional application of Bourdieu’s social theory beyond the study of class. Drawing on empirical research carried out in faith-based Academies in the United Kingdom, the discussion of Bourdieu’s work will be set in a real world research context allowing for a thorough discussion of the issues and challenges encountered by researchers in their application of Bourdieu’s concepts. The chapter also illustrates how to build on Bourdieu’s theory by integrating concepts from other thinkers into educational research design. This is important because Bourdieu’s writings are complex and this can mean that first encounters with his work are off-putting for new researchers. Experience of this suggests that an introduction to Bourdieu’s theory is much more successful when approached through a case-study of real research. This allows the reader to get a better handle on the definition and application of concepts as well as to assess the strengths and weaknesses of analysis using this theoretical lens.

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This is a peer reviewed Chapter

Chapter in Social Theory and Education Research. Revised Edition
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2022
ISBN/ISSN: 9780367742027


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