Disciplinary cultures and the moral order of studying - A case-study of four Finnish university departments

Based on qualitative data gathered in one Finnish university, the article examines disciplinary cultures of four study fields: computer science, library science and informatics, public administration, and sociology and social psychology. It is suggested that the core of each discipline can be conceptualized as a moral order that defines the basic beliefs, values and norms of the local culture. Following this frame of reference, the analysis of students' accounts demonstrates essential differences regarding how the virtues and vices of studying are understood and what kinds of social identities are constructed in different fields. The implications of the results for the quality assessment and the development of university teaching are discussed.