Journal of Iranian Cultural Research

Journal of Iranian Cultural Research

Academic culture and the change in religiosity of students; A qualitative study

Document Type : Scientific Research Manuscript

Authors
Hamed Manouchehri Kousha 1
Mohammad Javad Esmaeili 2
1 Postdoctoral researcher- Institute for science and technology studies- Shahid Beheshti University
2 Assistant professor, Institute for science and technology studies, Shahid Beheshti University
10.22035/jicr.2025.3403.3658
Abstract
Empirical research indicates that academic culture influences students' religiosity. However, to gain a deeper understanding of this phenomenon—essential for socio-cultural policy-making—it is necessary to precisely identify the mechanisms and processes through which this influence occurs. The present study endeavors to identify and analyze the primary mechanisms and processes through which universities influence students' religiosity by employing the grounded theory approach and conducting semi-structured interviews with 16 students who have experienced significant changes in their religiosity during their university years. From the analysis of the interviews, 12 core categories such as "diversity of viewpoints and lifestyles," "educational culture," and "attractiveness and repulsion of religious people", and many sub-categories and concepts in each of them, emerged and were formulated. A core theoretical proposition, "double edged nature of academic culture regarding the religiosity," was derived. Based on this core theoretical proposition, the impact of academic culture on students' religiosity is not a one-sided, continuous, and linear process, but rather a two-way and dynamic one. In other words, academic culture, depending on social conditions and situations, can lead to both an increase and decrease in students' religiosity. In this regard, the status of students' religiosity can be considered a social construct, meaning that changes in students' religiosity are more the result of social interactions in student clubs, dormitories, and student organizations rather than the result of students' logical and rational philosophical and theological arguments.
Keywords
Double edged academic culture
Social mechanisms
Changes in religiosity
Grounded theory

Subjects

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  • Receive Date 06 November 2024
  • Revise Date 24 February 2025
  • Accept Date 27 April 2025