The Quantified Scholar: How Research Evaluations Transformed the British Social Sciences

The British government has sought to assess the value of scholarly work in universities by evaluating the research of full-time academics. Juan Pablo Pardo-Guerra argues that this has led to less diversity and more disciplinary conformity in scholarship, rewarding forms of research that are closer to established disciplinary canons. He calls for new forms of vocational solidarity to challenge entrenched inequality in academia.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 30 June 2022
Publisher: Columbia University Press

The British government has been facing financial constraints and increasing demands for public accountability since 1986, leading to an assessment of the value of scholarly work in the nation's universities. Administrators have periodically evaluated the research of full-time academics employed in British universities, aiming to distribute increasingly scarce funding to those who utilize it most effectively. This evaluation process has had significant implications for the nature of scholarship.

In his book "The Quantified Scholar," Juan Pablo Pardo-Guerra explores the effects of quantitative research evaluations on British social scientists. Pardo-Guerra argues that the pursuit of measuring academic excellence has resulted in less diversity and more disciplinary conformity within the field. Through a combination of interviews and original computational analyses, Pardo-Guerra provides a compelling account of how scores, metrics, and standardized research evaluations have altered the incentives of scientists and administrators. These evaluations have rewarded forms of scholarship that align with established disciplinary canons, amplifying publication hierarchies and long-standing forms of academic prestige.

However, this emphasis on quantification has come at the expense of diversity. Research evaluations have reshaped academic departments, the interests of scholars, the organization of disciplines, and the employment conditions of researchers. They have reinforced existing inequalities, with certain disciplines and researchers being favored over others based on their perceived value and productivity.

Critiquing the effects of quantification on the workplace, Pardo-Guerra presents alternatives to existing forms of evaluation. He advocates for new forms of vocational solidarity that can challenge entrenched inequality in academia. These alternatives involve promoting collaboration, interdisciplinary research, and the recognition of diverse perspectives and methodologies.

In conclusion, the assessment of the value of scholarly work in universities has had a profound impact on the nature of scholarship. While quantitative research evaluations have aimed to distribute funding effectively, they have inadvertently reinforced existing inequalities and limited diversity. It is essential to reevaluate the evaluation processes and promote alternative forms of evaluation that value collaboration, interdisciplinary research, and the recognition of diverse perspectives and methodologies. By doing so, we can strive to create a more equitable and inclusive academic environment that fosters the growth of knowledge and innovation.

Dimension: 216 x 140 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231197816