Knowledge in the architectural profession

Philip, Duncan (1996) Knowledge in the architectural profession. Masters by Research thesis, Murdoch University.

Abstract

The core of this thesis is the report of an empirical investigation of the knowledges used by architects in practice. Eighty one respondents were contacted at regular intervals and asked to describe their current activities and what knowledges they had needed to employ to undertake the activities. Subsequently, thirty two of these architects were interviewed in order to find out what they believed differentiated architectural knowledge from that used by competitors in the building field. Results are categorised, analysed and interpreted in terms of a variety of theoretical approaches.

Report of the empirical work is preceded by a broad theoretical investigation of a range of themes in development of the thesis title, with particular emphasis on conceptions of knowledge. Sociological theorising about professions and an historical interpretation of the development of‘professional society' are explored. Ideas related to the interaction of power and knowledge are also brought to attention.

The final section is devoted to implications of the research for architectural education. This chapter draws on theoretical material, covered earlier in the work, which gives consideration of status issues in professions, the concept of social closure and the role played by tertiary-level education in ‘gate-keeping' on behalf of the architectural profession.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters by Research)
Murdoch Affiliation(s):	School of Social Sciences
Notes:	Note to the author: If you would like to make your thesis openly available on Murdoch University Library's Research Repository, please contact: repository@murdoch.edu.au. Thank you.
Supervisor(s):	Harris, Patricia
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/52759

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