The journal quality perception gap

Cormac Bryce, Michael Dowling and Brian Lucey

Research Policy, 2020, vol. 49, issue 5

Abstract: We explore the drivers of researchers’ perceptions around journal quality, and how these perceptions converge or diverge with national journal ranking systems. Prior to the release of the Academic Journal Guide (AJG) 2018 rankings list, we surveyed UK business school researchers, resulting in 19,597 individual journal rankings. We find a notable journal quality perception gap, with 39% of subjective rankings from the business and management community differing from the AJG 2018 rankings. We show that measures of personal connection to the AJG system have strong explanatory power. These factors include the usage of, and sentiment towards, the AJG list, as well as individual research success as measured by AJG rankings. Consistently, we find that high values for these factors narrow the quality perception gap, whereas low values widen it. We also find an increase in the quality perception gap for journals that a respondent has submitted to or reviewed for. Our research, thus, provides new insights into how researchers interact with journal ranking systems. We propose how researchers, business schools, and ranking bodies can incorporate these findings to improve stakeholders’ consensus on research quality assessment.

Keywords: Academic journal guide; Research excellence framework; Journal quality; Journal ranking; Quality perception (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:respol:v:49:y:2020:i:5:s0048733320300378

DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2020.103957

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