Quality and the research assessment exercise: just one aspect of performance?

Abstract

Investigates the ways in which the performance of academic research can be measured. In particular, it considers the role of quality as one aspect of performance. Focuses specifically on the case of the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) carried out in all UK universities and highlights the need for clearer definition and measurement frameworks. Considers the extent to which research can be considered as a product or a service. The literature is reviewed and a performance measurement framework for research is suggested, with a set of quantitative performance measures. The extent to which these measures include the RAE measures is then discussed and it is shown that the RAE measures focus primarily on one aspect of performance. Recommendations are made concerning the utilisation of a wider framework than that suggested by the RAE to enable research performance to be assessed in overall terms, improvements to be identified and benchmarking carried out.