The purpose of this study is to understand the practice of agricultural scientific research conducted by a public research organization in Brazil, from the perspective of Pierre Bourdieu’s reflexive sociology. It also examines the historic constitution of the practice, covers the political and scientific context of its creation, and investigates the distinguishing features between its agents and the manifestation of disputes that intend to influence the research. As a methodological strategy for identifying the capital at stake and the maintenance and subversion strategies of the established order in the field, two readings are applied. The first focuses on objective aspects, as presented in various documents, rules, and structures, while the second focuses on subjective aspects drawn from the views and opinions of the agents. Based on the circular approach, it was found that there was a significant influence from other fields when ordering the practice as well as a hierarchy of capital, particularly in the accumulation of social networking, bureaucratic (positions), financial, and scientific resources.
Scientific Research; Social Practice; Bourdieu; Field; Social Games
