Research Quality Assessment in the UK: Frankenstein's Monster or Critical Panacea?

Abstract

This paper addresses unintended consequences of national research quality assessment. Through a case study of UK's research assessment exercises, this paper delves into the possibility that research assessment coupled with selective funding leads to homogenization of research themes and methodology. Special emphasis is put on the case of business and management studies, in which journal articles have progressively come to occupy majority of research outcomes submitted to assessment exercises. This trend suggests the possibility that journal-driven research, instead of curiosity-driven or socially-driven research, will assume a predominant position in academia.