The politics of policy sociology : an analysis of contract research

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Abstract

This study analyses two key dimensions of policy sociology. On the one hand, policy sociology often reduces sociology to a technical expertise based on instrumental knowledge that can be placed at the service of clients. Such instrumentalism runs the risk of reducing policy sociology to a "pathological" form of subordination to funding (Burawoy, 2007a). On the other hand, the experience of contract researchers within policy sociology has been neglected and marginalised. They are exposed to the strains and contradictions of policy sociology and competitive managerialism in universities. Contract research is often seen as akin to a craft apprenticeship or a rite of passage. However, this can obscure more exploitative practices, often concealed by impression management of research "teams" as uniformly coherent, collegiate and technically competent. This gives rise to a further tension between academic habitus and the objective structures of institutional fields. In order to examine these two dimensions of policy sociology I construct an analytical narrative based on my own experience as a contract researcher in a number of "teams" and institutional contexts. This analysis broadly corroborate the experiences reported by others, that policy sociology runs the risk of sponsor capture and that contract researchers can be exposed to exploitation and marginalisation in the research process. Finally, I conclude by suggesting areas where further research and action seems imperative.

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This thesis was previously held under moratorium from 8th August 2011 until 8th August 2013.

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