University Rankings: Theoretical Basis, Methodology and Impacts on Global Higher Education - The Changing Academy – The Changing Academic Profession in International Comparative Perspective 2011 edition

Marc Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index. Review Quotes: This is the best book going on university rankings. It provides a reliable, readable, wide-ranging guide for the policy maker, university leader, scholar and would be doctoral student who wants to make sense of the mass of ranking data now available. Shin, Toutkoushian and Teichler tell us how to sort the good, the bad and the ugly in university comparison. A strength of the book, one that guarantees its broad relevance, is the inclusion of contributions from each of the world s major zones of higher education. Simon Marginson, Professor, University of Melbourne This volume makes an impressive contribution to our understanding of the international obsession with university rankings. Shin, Toutkoushian, and Teichler, along with their contributing authors, examine the topic from multiple perspectives that will appeal to administrators, scholars, and public audiences alike. Grounded in organizational theory, the volume sheds light on the many ranking methodologies ranging from simplistic and descriptive to intricate and multivariate. Not only do several chapters illuminate the relevant measurement issues, but other chapters address the social impact of the rankings themselves and how they influence university behavior. No other book combines such a rich collection of international perspectives and so effectively fills a gap in the literature. James Fredericks Volkwein, Professor, Pennsylvania State University This book offers a comprehensive and very timely analysis of a topic of central importance to contemporary higher education: university rankings. Contributors to the book provide a key to the understanding of the theoretical basis and methodological foundations of rankings and their impact on higher education systems and institutions. Illuminating the amazing popularity of rankings, broad and refreshing reflection on the drivers and consequences of rankings are offered. Jurgen Enders, Professor, University of Twente Since the rankings and indicators of universitieTable of Contents: Preface.- Contributors.- 1. The Past, Present, and Future of University Rankings; "J""ung Cheol"" S""HIN and Robert K. TOUTKOUSHIAN."- PART A. Organizational Effectiveness, Quality, and Rankings.- 2. Organizational Effectiveness and University Rankings; "J""ung Cheol"" S""HIN."- 3. Competitors of Rankings: New Directions in Quality Assurance and Accountability; "G""rant"" H""ARMAN."- 4. The Social Contexts and Systemic Consequence of University Rankings: A Meta-Analysis of the Ranking Literature; "Ulrich TEICHLER.- "PART B. Methodological Issues of University Rankings.- 5. Methodological Issues: Indicators and Weights; "B""ernard"" L""ONGDEN."- 6. Measures of Faculty Productivity; "K""aren"" W""EBBER."- 7. Issues in Measuring the Research Performance of Postsecondary Institutions; "R""obert K"." T""OUTKOUSHIAN and ""K""aren"" W""EBBER."- 8. Peer Review and Bibliometric Indicators: Potentials and Problems; "L""utz B""ORNMANN."- 9. Measuring Teaching Performance; "K""eith"" T""RIGWELL."- PART C. Social Impacts of University Rankings.- 10. On the Efficacy of Raising Your University s Rankings; "C""hristopher ""M""ORPHEW and"" ""C""hristopher"" S""WANSON."- 11. The Institutionalization of Rankings: Managing Status Anxiety in an Increasingly Marketized Environment; "W""illiam ""L""OCKE."- 12. Reaction to Academic Ranking: Knowledge Production, Faculty Productivity from an International Perspective; "Akira ARIMOTO."- 13: The Future of University Rankings; "Ulrich TEICHLER."- Index. "Jacket Description/Back: This ground-breaking and exhaustive analysis of university ranking surveys scrutinizes their theoretical bases, methodological issues, societal impact, and policy implications, providing readers with a deep understanding of these controversial comparators. The authors propose that university rankings are misused by policymakers and institutional leaders alike. They assert that these interested parties overlook the highly problematic internal logic of ranking methodologies even as they obsess over the surveys assessment of their status. The result is that institutions suffer from short-termism, realigning their resources to maximize their relative rankings. While rankings are widely used in policy and academic discussions, this is the first book to explore the theoretical and methodological issues of ranking itself. It is a welcome contribution to an often highly charged debate. Far from showing how to manipulate the system, this collection of work by key researchers aims to enlighten interested parties." This is the best book going on university rankings. It provides a reliable, readable, wide-ranging guide for the policy maker, university leader, scholar and would be doctoral student who wants to make sense of the mass of ranking data now available. Shin, Toutkoushian and Teichler tell us how to sort the good, the bad and the ugly in university comparison. A strength of the book, one that guarantees its broad relevance, is the inclusion of contributions from each of the world s major zones of higher education. "Simon Marginson, Professor, University of Melbourne""This book offers a comprehensive and very timely analysis of a topic of central importance to contemporary higher education: university rankings. Contributors to the book provide a key to the understanding of the theoretical basis and methodological foundations of rankings and their impact on higher education systems and institutions. Illuminating the amazing popularity of rankings, broad and refreshing reflection on the drivers and consequences of rankings are offered. "Jurgen Enders, Professor, University of Twente "Brief Description: While university ranking surveys are widely used in policy and academic discussions, this is the first book to explore the theoretical and methodological issues of ranking itself. It is a much-needed reality check on the many problems inherent in the surveys. Review Quotes:" This is the best book going on university rankings. It provides a reliable, readable, wide-ranging guide for the policy maker, university leader, scholar and would be doctoral student who wants to make sense of the mass of ranking data now available. Shin, Toutkoushian and Teichler tell us how to sort the good, the bad and the ugly in university comparison. A strength of the book, one that guarantees its broad relevance, is the inclusion of contributions from each of the world s major zones of higher education. "Simon Marginson, Professor, University of Melbourne " This volume makes an impressive contribution to our understanding of the international obsession with university rankings. Shin, Toutkoushian, and Teichler, along with their contributing authors, examine the topic from multiple perspectives that will appeal to administrators, scholars, and public audiences alike. Grounded in organizational theory, the volume sheds light on the many ranking methodologies ranging from simplistic and descriptive to intricate and multivariate. Not only do several chapters illuminate the relevant measurement issues, but other chapters address the social impact of the rankings themselves and how they influence university behavior. No other book combines such a rich collection of international perspectives and so effectively fills a gap in the literature. "James Fredericks Volkwein, Professor, Pennsylvania State University " This book offers a comprehensive and very timely analysis of a topic of central importance to contemporary higher education: university rankings. Contributors to the book provide a key to the understanding of the theoretical basis and methodological foundations of rankings and their impact on higher education systems and institutions. Illuminating the amazing popularity of rankings, broad and refreshing reflection on the drivers and consequences of rankings are offered. "Jurgen Enders, Professor, University of Twente " S