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Forging identities

The experiences of probationary lecturers in the UK

Bibliographic Data

ID4096838
AuthorsJan Smith (0000-0002-0588-4904, University of Strathclyde, corresponding author)
Year2010
Volume35
Issue5
Pages577-591
Publication date2010-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueStudies in Higher Education (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0307-5079 • E-ISSN: 1470-174X
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/03075070903216650
OpenAlexW2028090322
LanguageEN
Citations received19
References cited14

This article concerns itself with how academic identities may come to be formed. Taking a longitudinal approach, stories of the experiences of probationary lecturers have been gathered and analysed, to outline an emergent typology of academic socialisation. Whilst the stories are unique to individuals, and the broader context of their experience is key, some overarching trajectories through the probationary period emerged from the data. For some, the transition to academic life is unremarkable, and identity is untroubled. For others, this appears to be a more troublesome time and a good deal of dissonance is encountered: an academic identity is hard fought and felt to be forged in difficult circumstances. The ‘underlying game’ of UK higher education may thus be experienced as more confounding and inhospitable than we would hope. Attention to this ‘game’ and explaining the ‘rules’ may well be beneficial to new colleagues, smoothing a sometimes difficult journey

Aesthetics · Art · Cognitive dissonance · Higher education · Pedagogy · Political science · Sociology · Typology · Evaluation of Teaching Practices · Gender Studies · Higher Education Governance and Development · Higher Education Practises and Engagement · History · Psychology · Social Psychology

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Unique citing works19
Citations per year1,46
Citation span2013 - 2026 (14)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 19
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