'It's Best to Leave This Constructive Ambiguity in Place!' : The Evaluation of Research in Literary Studies

Journal article


Nolan, Marguerite Rose, Mrva-Montoya, Agata and Ward, Rebekah. (2023). 'It's Best to Leave This Constructive Ambiguity in Place!' : The Evaluation of Research in Literary Studies. Australian Literary Studies. 38(2), pp. 1-20. https://doi.org/10.20314/als.8ec9216602
AuthorsNolan, Marguerite Rose, Mrva-Montoya, Agata and Ward, Rebekah
Abstract

Despite recognition that the use of journal rankings in research assessment is problematic, they are implicitly or explicitly used by institutions to evaluate individual researchers. This essay reports on a study we undertook on behalf of the Australian University Heads of English (AUHE) investigating research assessment policies within the field of English, and their impact on academics’ publishing strategies and careers. After an initial online questionnaire, we conducted follow-up interviews with twenty-seven Australian literary studies academics from a range of institutions and at varying academic levels. Given generally widespread scepticism about the role of journal rankings in measuring quality, we asked these academics how they think literary studies can and should be evaluated. What we discovered was a broad and rich range of responses to this challenging question, as well as various creative ways literary studies academics negotiate questions of value in relation to institutional priorities and modes of evaluation. This paper suggests that broadening conceptions of value may be an important strategic response to the current institutional context in Australia.

Keywordsliterature; Australia; literary studies; Australian University Heads of English; publishing; research; evaluation
Year01 Jan 2023
JournalAustralian Literary Studies
Journal citation38 (2), pp. 1-20
PublisherUniversity of Queensland Press
ISSN0004-9697
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.20314/als.8ec9216602
Web address (URL)https://www.australianliterarystudies.com.au/articles/its-best-to-leave-this-constructive-ambiguity-in-place-the-evaluation-of-research-in-literary-studies
Open accessPublished as non-open access
Research or scholarlyResearch
Page range1-20
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Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online31 Oct 2023
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Deposited19 Nov 2024
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