This chapter explores Deleuze and Guattari’s rhizome as a multifaceted approach within educational research, suggesting it as an alternative way of mapping complexities, limiting structures and messiness which may not always be surfaced in more traditional theoretical frameworks, methods, and methodologies. Despite its potential to enrich higher education scholarship through non-linear and interconnected perspectives, adoption has been hindered by the perceptions of its dense philosophical language and ideas and the fear of ‘doing it wrong’. By offering a primer on rhizome theory and its potential for methodological and theoretical frameworks, this chapter seeks to demystify it for scholars new to Deleuze and Guattari, acknowledging and building upon previous work in this field. A case study illustrates the rhizome’s capacity to challenge traditional epistemological assumptions, presenting a more holistic and connected view of teaching with technologies in universities. The chapter concludes with a critical discussion on the limitations of rhizome theory and suggests opportunities for its broader application in higher education research. This exploration recommends rhizome’s potential in reflecting the dynamic,
complex nature of educational scholarship and practices.
Citation
Drumm, L. (2024). Becoming Rhizome: Deleuze and Guattari’s Rhizome as Theory and Method. In Theory and Method in Higher Education Research: Volume 10 (37-55). Emerald. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2056-375220240000010003
Online Publication Date
Dec 9, 2024
Publication Date
2024
Deposit Date
Oct 4, 2024
Publicly Available Date
Dec 9, 2024
Publisher
Emerald
Peer Reviewed
Peer Reviewed
Pages
37-55
Series ISSN
2056-3752
Book Title
Theory and Method in Higher Education Research: Volume 10
