Low graduation in postgraduate careers: applicability and validity of Pierre Bourdieu's concepts and categories for analysis and interpretation in a Master's degree

Abstract

The low graduation in postgraduate careers is a complex and multi-caused phenomenon. One of the ways in which it manifests is “All But Dissertation” (abd) Syndrome referring to the strong tendency to carry out postgraduate studies (master’s and doctorate degrees), completion and approval of all courses, and/or seminars, with the exception of the final thesis and its public dissertation. The problem of graduation in postgraduate degrees that require the preparation of a thesis for approval is recognized by its universal nature. However, its magnitude is greater in Latin America than in developed countries. In this article, we investigate possible applications of the sociological theory of Bourdieu fields, which has been little explored in research on the subject. Our objective, in this sense, is to explore the potential of a series of crucial concepts of Bourdieu as a theoretical framework suitable for the understanding and research on abd syndrome. This work, in turn, is the product of a preliminary phase of an intervention proposal to improve the rate and times of graduation of a Master's degree, in a military field, in Argentina.