Stakeholder perspectives on citation and peer-based rankings of higher education journals

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to identify and discuss the possible uses of higher education journal rankings, and the associated advantages and disadvantages of using them. The research involved 40 individuals – lecturers, university managers, journal editors and publishers – who represented a range of stakeholders involved with research into higher education. The respondents completed an online questionnaire that consisted mainly of open questions. Although clear support for or opposition to journal rankings was split about equally, over two-thirds of the respondents reported having used or referred to a journal ranking during the previous 12 months. This suggests wide acceptance of the use of journal rankings, despite the downsides and problematic nature of these rankings being clearly recognised. It raises the question why the very diverse field of higher education does not show more resistance against the rather homogenising instrument of journal rankings.