Hérubel, Jean-Pierre V. M.

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Purdue UniversityPurdue e-PubsLibraries Faculty and Staff Presentations Purdue Libraries2010Paris Versus Province, French DissertationResearch in Selected Humanities and SocialScience Disciplines: Qualitative Observations andSignificance, 1977-2006Jean-Pierre V. M. HérubelFollow this and additional works at: http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/lib_fspresThis document has been made available through Purdue e-Pubs, a service of the Purdue University Libraries. Please contact epubs@purdue.edu foradditional information.Recommended CitationHérubel, Jean-Pierre V. M., "Paris Versus Province, French Dissertation Research in Selected Humanities and Social ScienceDisciplines: Qualitative Observations and Significance, 1977-2006" (2010). Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations. Paper 113.http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/lib_fspres/113Paris Versus Province, French Dissertation Research in Selected Humanities and Social Science Disciplines: Qualitative Observations and Significance, 1977-2006     Jean-Pierre V. M. Hérubel Purdue University, HSSE Library, West Lafayette, Indiana, 47907, U.S.A. E-mail: jpvmh@purdue.edu Keywords: dissertations, humanities, Paris, provinces, social sciences      1 Introduction: Higher education in France is centralized, with national administration, funding, and programmatic responsibilities (Musselin, 2003).  Since doctoral dissertations represent the highest formal achievements in higher education, they represent an intellectual register of research generated by higher education. (Hesseling, 1986; Kouptsov, 1994; Rothblatt, & Wittrock, 1993; Rutledge,1994; de Ridder-Symoens, 1992).  Additionally, dissertation production provides an approach to identifying research trends useful for administrators and policy makers who must address issues of research education and research funding.  This exploratory examination focuses on French dissertation production in selected humanities and social sciences to determine geographical venues in dissertation research and whether the common perception of Parisian dominance is a realistic reflection of French doctoral disciplinary research (Wanner, 1975).      2 Method  Dissertations for 1977-2006 in representative humanities and social sciences: art & archaeology, ethnology, history, geography, philosophy, prehistory, SIC (information science & communication), sociology were searched in SUDOC (Système universitaire de documentation) for discipline and geographical affiliation; only universities and the EHESS (École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, were triaged since they fully participate in SUDOC.  Informed by historical context and general conditions of French academia, analysis includes examination of disciplinary evolution and history of selected disciplines.  3 Qualitative Observations   The search yielded 25,039 dissertations for the decennial target years, with production levels representative of disciplinary activity (See Figures 1 and 2):         Figure 1 Total Production of Target Dissertations 1977-2006  010002000300040005000600070008000900010000Art & ArchyEthnologyHistoryGeographyPrehistoryPhilosophySICSociology  Source: SUDOC     1  Figure 2 Decennial Production of Target Dissertations 0500100015002000250030003500400045005000Art & ArchyEthnologyHistoryGeographyPrehistoryPhilosophySICSociology77-8687-9697-06    Source: SUDOC           A variegated pattern of Parisian/provincial association emerged—historical evolution may constitute disciplinary destiny (Charles, 1985; Charle, 1986; Charle, 1994; Ringer, 1992).  Provincial institutions experienced a varied history of neglect and support (Clark, 1973; Weisz, 1983; Musselin, & Mignot-Gerard, 2002); since early 20th century, governmental authorities redressed such conditions via subventions, etc. (See Figure 3):                       Figure 3 Parisian Percentage of Dissertations     0102030405060708090Art &ArchyEthnologyGeographyHistoryPhilosophyPrehistory SICSociology77-8687-9697-06       Source: SUDOC  4 Concluding Observations Parisian dominance of French dissertation production does not hold; Paris/province orientation indicates respective disciplinary evolution, specialization, and strengths:   • Art & Archaeology—Parisian domination--Paris I, Paris IV, and Paris X (Therrien, & Monnier, 1998).  Provincial universities hold dominance in regional orientation in all genres of art; archaeology, medieval ages, and ancient Gaul.      • Ethnology—EHESS and Paris I and Paris IV form a nucleus for ethnology, while provincial institutions capture more local ethnographic specialization (Karady, 1972; Revel & Wachtel, 1996).    • Geography—Emerged system-wide among provincial institutions where regional geography flourished; dominated by provincial institutions (Hérubel, 2005).  Paris I is most established  2national department, but provinces specialize in regional geography, i.e. University of Grenoblalpine geography. Non-French specializations--Universities of Toulouse I, University of Bordeaux.             • History—esta the I--blished late 19  century, with each university specializing in local, regional and provincial historical interests (Hérubel, 2006). Paris I, Paris IV, and Paris X constitute national ophy—established early 19  century for secondary schools and universities; a canonical discipline (Schrift, 2006).  Universities of Paris I and IV constitute nexus; exceptions, provincial n, onal interest in prehistoric artifacts and cultures were in evidence (Coye, 1997). Parisian/provincial division is ocus.      de Bordeaux III; established in 1975 SIC is inter/multidisciplinary in nature; Universities of Paris  (Piriou, 1999); balanced between Parisian and provincial affiliation, with EHESS, founded in 1975, locus of excellence.      Mignot-Gerard, S.  The recent evolution of French universities. In  Amaral, A., Jones, G. and arseth, B. (2002). Governing Higher Education: National Perspectives on Institutional Governance.  ion et de la communication: regards croisés. illeneuve-d'Ascq: Presses universitaires du septentrion.  940. Paris: Seuil. Xe siècles. ol. 1. La Faculté des Lettres de Paris (1809-1908). Paris: Institut national de recherche pédagogique:  s professeurs de la Faculté des Lettres de Paris: dictionnaire biographique 1909-1939. ol. 2. Paris: Institut national de recherche pédagogique: Editions du CNRS. nce of the socialsSciences. ambridge: Harvard University Press. le et en acte: méthodes et enjeux de la pratique archéologique: 830-1950. Paris: L'Harmattan. 990 French doctoral dissertations in philosophy: a bibliometric profile of  canonical discipline. in Torres-Salinas, Daniel, Moed, Henk F, 11th International Conference of the core.    • Philos thuniversities specialize in certain fields, i.e. Universities of Strasbourg II for philosophy of religioPoitiers, medieval, Nice, continental, Tours, Renaissance. (Hérubel, 2007).  • Prehistory—established early 20th century in Paris and province, where registasis with no demonstrable advantage--provincial strengths are grounded in local, regional f • SIC—developed at Institut de la Presse Française, University of Paris II, as well as at University II and Bordeaux constitute major centers (Boure, 2002; Hérubel, 2007).  • Sociology—established early 20th century at Sorbonne, spread to EHESS Disciplinary geographical alignement  and evolution varies with historical conditions.    References  Musselin, C.,KDordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, pp.  63-85.    Boure, R. (2002). Les origines des sciences de l'informatV Charle, C. (1994). La république des universitaires, 1870-1 Charle, C. (1985). Dictionnaire biographique des universitaires aux XIXe et XVEditions du CNRS.  Charle, C. (1986) LeV Clark, T.  (1973). Prophets and patrons: the French university and the emerge C Coye, N. (1997). La préhistoire en paro 1 Hérubel, J.-P. V. M. (2007). Pre 1a International Society for Scientometrics and Informetrics. CSIC, Madrid, pp. 368-377.  3Hérubel, J.-P. V. M. (2005). Geo-bibliometric mapping of French geography: an examination of geography dissertations produced in France. Behavioral & Social Sciences Librarian 24, 83-101.  Hérubel, J.-P. V. M. (2006). Utilizing journal dissertation listings for bibliometric analysis: French history dissertations 1976-1990. Behavioral & Social Sciences Librarian 25, 23-134.  Hérubel, J.-P. V. M. (2007). Disciplinary and research subjects in French doctoral dissertations in press and media studies: A bibliometric treatment. Behavioral & Social Sciences Librarian 25, 23-46. Hesseling, P. G. M. (1986). Frontiers of Learning: The Ph.D. Octopus. Dordrecht: Foris Publications.  Karady, V. (1972). Note sur les thèses de doctorat consacrées à l'Afrique dans les universités françaises de 1884-1961.  Social Science Information 11, 65-80.  Kouptsov, O. compiler &edited by Barrows, L. C. (1994). The Doctorate in the Europe region. Bucharest: CEPES.   Musselin, C. (2003). The Long march of French universities. New York: Routledge Falmer.   Piriou, O. (1999). La sociologie des sociologues. Formation, identité, profession. Paris: ENS Editions.  Revel, J. & Wachtel, N. (1996). Une école pour les sciences sociales: de la VIe section à l’Ecole des Hautes études en sciences sociales.  Paris: Editions du CERF: Editions de l’Ecole des hautes études en sciences sociales.   de Ridder-Symoens, H., ed. (1992). Universities in the middle ages. Cambridge: Cambridge University  Press.  Ringer, Fritz. (1992). Fields of Knowledge: French academic culture in comparative perspective, 1890- 1920. New York: Cambridge University Press.   Rothblatt, S. & Wittrock, eds. (1993). The European and American university since 1800: Historical and  Sociological Essays. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.  Rutledge, J. (1994). European dissertations: production, access, and use.  Collection Management. 19, 43- 67.   Schrift, A.D. (2006). Twentieth-Century French philosophy: key themes and thinkers. Malden, Mass.: Blackwell Pub.   Therrien, L. and Monnier, G. (1998). L'histoire de l'art en France: genèse d'une discipline universitaire. Paris: Editions du C.T.H.S.   Wanner, R. E. (1975). France: A study of the educational system of France and a guide to the  Academic placement of students in educational institutions of the United States. New York: World Education Services & AACRAO, pp. 116-123.  Weisz, G. (1983). The Emergence of modern universities in France, 1863-1914. Princeton: Princeton University Press.       4 5                          

Paris Versus Province, French Dissertation Research in Selected Humanities and Social Science Disciplines: Qualitative Observations and Significance, 1977-2006

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Paris Versus Province, French Dissertation Research in Selected Humanities and Social Science Disciplines: Qualitative Observations and Significance, 1977-2006

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