Culture, Habitus, and Society: A Multidimensional Sociological Perspective on Social Practices of Students in Higher Education in Pakistan

Abstract

This study explores the interconnections between culture, habitus, and social practices among students in higher education in Pakistan. Employing a quantitative cross-sectional survey, the research targeted 316 students enrolled in BS (4-year) programs within the Faculty of Social Sciences at a public sector university, using stratified random sampling to ensure representativeness. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire assessing students’ attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors, with reliability confirmed via a pilot study (Cronbach’s alpha > 0.70). Analysis using descriptive statistics revealed that students’ social interactions, academic engagement, and everyday practices are shaped by the interplay of internalized dispositions, cultural norms, and institutional structures. The concept of habitus highlighted how prior experiences and social backgrounds influence students’ adaptation to the academic field, whereas cultural capital accounted for variations in access to knowledge, resources, and recognition. The findings demonstrate that student behaviors reflect negotiated identities, symbolic boundaries, and socially mediated expectations, positioning higher education simultaneously as a site of social reproduction and a space for agency and transformation. This study underscores the value of a multidimensional sociological lens in understanding student practices within Pakistan’s educational and cultural context.