Introduction: The Structure of the Academic Professions

Because the academic profession (as it is called) holds such a central position in higher education, and because higher education in America today influences behavior and ideas throughout the entire structure of the technocratic culture (Habermas, 1970; Jencks & Riesman, 1968:15-25), the academic profession is an important subject for sociological analysis. This special issue was organized to present new research and to assess the maturity of the field. In order to properly introduce this interesting set of articles they should be set in the larger context of the field as a whole. But this cannot be done; for the sociology of academicians suffers from disorganization. We need to develop a framework which will clarify the nature of these new papers and previous research as well.' Two attributes characterize the disorganization found among the numerous studies of faculty. First, the research is uncoordinated. The absence of references to the work of others, not to mention a scientific spirit of directing one's work towards the cumulation of tested knowledge, bespeaks of egocentrism which has hurt this field as it has others. This fragmented quality forces one to read a number of studies asking different questions in order to gain an overview of even one area.2 The second weakness which keeps the sociology of the academic profession from maturing as a science is the lack of good