Hedgehogs, foxes and other embodiments of academics’ research career trajectories

ABSTRACT

Academics’ career trajectories follow diverse paths, and understanding them is challenging. Animal metaphors, notably the contrast between hedgehogs and foxes, have helped to distinguish patterns but need reappraisal as universities change. Reflecting on prominent sociologists’ careers, the argument is developed that academic trajectories differ according to whether work is blue skies or applied, and how it relates to innovation and consolidation. Four types of academic animals are identified: bears, beavers, jackdaws and eagles. Ann Oakley’s career is used to illustrate how individuals’ trajectories may move between these. For researchers anticipating how their academic futures may unfold, role models framed in these terms offer alternative scenarios.

KEYWORDS:

• Academic careers
• animal metaphors
• research innovation and consolidation

Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to Nickie Charles, Jonathan Hearn, Ann Oakley, Kate Woodthorpe and the journal’s anonymous referees for numerous helpful comments on earlier drafts. Images from Konrad Gesner are reproduced here courtesy of the National Library of Medicine https://www.nlm.nih.gov/ Image 6 courtesy of Pixabay https://pixabay.com/vectors/coat-of-arms-borch-three-jackdaws-2355368/

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes on contributor

Graham Crow, FAcSS, is Professor of Sociology and Methodology at the University of Edinburgh. His interests include the sociology of community, sociological theory, comparative sociology, and research methodology. He is currently researching later academic career trajectories.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Leverhulme Trust under grant RF-2019-623