Dinâmica de distribuição de fontes de capitais científicos entre docentes / pesquisadores de um programa de pós-graduação Stricto-Sensu de uma universidade pública

Abstract

In the context of universities and more specifically, of graduate school, this study aims to analyze, in an exploratory way, the dynamics of scientific capital distribution among teachers of a Master’s and Doctorate’s degree program at a public university. Specifically, how teachers are distributed among those activities that allow them to accumulate pure scientific capital (such as publications and academic contributions to the field of knowledge) and institutional scientific capital (as occupying the positions that give them the power of decision within the field of science). Bourdieu´s approach (2003, 2004a; 2004b) about the scientific field was considered, because it allows us to apprehend the dynamics of capital distribution, which represents specific types of power. The approach was quantitative and qualitative, using documentary research in the curriculum Lattes of twenty-three teachers participating of the program, which is located in a city in Minas Gerais (Brazil) and belongs to the area of Applied Social Sciences. As main results, the dynamics demonstrates (1) that mostly teachers occupy median positions within the distribution of capital, (2) it’s difficult to accumulate both types of capital, (3) there isn't a polarization among teachers that have a strong accumulation of one kind of capital, and weak accumulation of the other capital, and (4) it’s easier to convert institutional capital into pure scientific capital.