Thorolf Krüger:

Research formatting

The article, which is primarily addressed to Ph.d-students and research advisors makes problematic central aspects of the practice of doing research. It reflects upon experiences from a Ph.d-project on what shapes music teacher practice. Through examples it discusses how forces and mechanisms embedded in verbal practice, in self-reflective practice, in mentoring practice and in publishing practice contribute to determine what may take place and, thus, premise what knowledge that may be developed. The article is constructed from a social epistemological perspective, which gives emphasis to the material aspect of knowledge. It lends support to Bourdieu's concept of field and to Foucault's ideas about discursive practice and about the relation between power and knowledge . From such a perspective carrying out a Ph.d-study means operating within a field where authority and knowledge interests are at stake - a field where "truths" are inscribed in the questions and responses that have accept, and also in the taken- for-granted relations between positions, techniques and practices. Power operates through the "microphysics" of the research project. It is inscribed in the ordering procedures for production, distribution and application of knowledge, for instance in the way the researcher comes to knowledge and in the way s/he uses knowledge to intervene in social affairs.