The academic researcher: Socialisation in settings previously dominated by teaching

Qualitative case studies of two multidisciplinary health science departments from different universities in Australia were undertaken to identify the experiences which beginning and early career researchers perceived had facilitated or inhibited their development as researchers during the first five years post amalgamation into university settings. Results were viewed using modernist and post modernist interpretations of organisational socialisation. A modernist interpretation indicated that the production of a successful academic researcher was linked to the creative intersection of person, department and institution, where individual motivation, a supportive, stable and adequately resourced environment, accessible skills and the opportunity for collaborative research were clearly of importance. A postmodernist interpretation, which celebrates diversity and creativity and values dynamism revealed the ambiguity and resistance which was present in the two settings but had the capacity to interpret this in a positive manner.