Research policy and academic performativity: compliance, contestation and complicity

Leathwood, C. and Read, B. (2013) Research policy and academic performativity: compliance, contestation and complicity. Studies in Higher Education, 38(8), pp. 1162-1174. (doi: 10.1080/03075079.2013.833025)

Abstract

Research, a major purpose of higher education, has become increasingly important in a context of global economic competitiveness. In this paper, we draw on data from email interviews with academics in Britain to explore responses to current research policy trends. Although the majority of academics expressed opposition to current policy developments, most were nevertheless complying with research imperatives. Informed by a Foucauldian conceptualisation of audit, feminist research on gendered performativity, and sociological and psycho-social theoretical resources on the affective, we discuss compliance, contestation and complicity in relation both to the data and to our own location as academics in this field.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Read, Dr Barbara
• Authors: Leathwood, C., and Read, B.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Education; College of Social Sciences > School of Education > Educational Leadership & Policy
• Journal Name: Studies in Higher Education
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• ISSN: 0307-5079
• ISSN (Online): 1470-174X