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The Impact on Research Quality of Performance-Based Funding: The Case of New Zealand's PBRF Scheme

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  • Buckle, Robert A
  • Creedy, John

Abstract

This paper discusses the impact on research quality of New Zealand universities of the Performance-Based Research Fund from 2003 to 2012. This is a peer-review process involving assessment of individual researchers. The contribution to improvement in research quality of transitions among research quality categories and entrants and exits of individuals are identified. A substantial component of change has been the removal of non-research active staff. There has been population ageing due to retention of older and higher-quality researchers and a large reduction in the number of younger researchers. Significant differences among universities are evident in the patterns of transformation. The paper also critically considers the PBRF assessment process and characteristics of the metrics used, suggesting scope for improvement in the assessment of researchers and the way in which universities are ranked.

Suggested Citation

  • Buckle, Robert A & Creedy, John, 2018. "The Impact on Research Quality of Performance-Based Funding: The Case of New Zealand's PBRF Scheme," Working Paper Series 20830, Victoria University of Wellington, Chair in Public Finance.
    • Handle: RePEc:vuw:vuwcpf:20830
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    File URL: https://ir.wgtn.ac.nz/handle/123456789/20830
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. David L. Anderson & John Tressler, 2013. "The New Zealand performance-based research fund and its impact on publication activity in economics," Research Evaluation, Oxford University Press, vol. 23(1), pages 1-11, September.
    2. Sinclair Davidson, 2013. "Excellence in Research for Australia: An Audit of the Applied Economics Rankings," Agenda - A Journal of Policy Analysis and Reform, Australian National University, College of Business and Economics, School of Economics, vol. 20(2), pages 5-20.
    3. David L. Anderson & Warren Smart & John Tressler, 2013. "Evaluating research -- peer review team assessment and journal based bibliographic measures: New Zealand PBRF research output scores in 2006," New Zealand Economic Papers, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(2), pages 140-157, August.
    4. A. Peter W. Hodder & Catherine Hodder, 2010. "Research culture and New Zealand’s performance-based research fund: some insights from bibliographic compilations of research outputs," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 84(3), pages 887-901, September.
    5. Robert A. Buckle & John Creedy, 2019. "The evolution of research quality in New Zealand universities as measured by the performance-based research fund process," New Zealand Economic Papers, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(2), pages 144-165, May.
    6. John Tressler & David L. Anderson, 2012. "Citations as a Measure of the Research Outputs of New Zealand's Economics Departments: The Problem of 'Long and Variable Lags'," Agenda - A Journal of Policy Analysis and Reform, Australian National University, College of Business and Economics, School of Economics, vol. 19(1), pages 17-40.
    7. Butler, Linda, 2003. "Explaining Australia's increased share of ISI publications--the effects of a funding formula based on publication counts," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 32(1), pages 143-155, January.
    8. Robert A. Buckle & John Creedy, 2019. "An evaluation of metrics used by the Performance-based Research Fund process in New Zealand," New Zealand Economic Papers, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(3), pages 270-287, September.
    9. John Gibson & John Tressler & David L. Anderson, 2008. "Do Research Assessment Exercises Raise the Returns to Publication Quality? Evidence from the New Zealand Market for Academic Economists," Working Papers in Economics 08/11, University of Waikato.
    10. Robert A. Buckle & John Creedy, 2019. "The evolution of research quality in New Zealand universities as measured by the performance-based research fund process," New Zealand Economic Papers, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(2), pages 144-165, May.
    11. Robert A. Buckle & John Creedy, 2019. "An evaluation of metrics used by the Performance-based Research Fund process in New Zealand," New Zealand Economic Papers, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(3), pages 270-287, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ann Brower & Alex James, 2023. "Sticky Floors, Double-Binds, and Double Whammies: Adjusting for Research Performance Reveals Universities’ Gender Pay Gap is Not Disappearing," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(3), pages 21582440231, August.
    2. Buckle, Robert A & Creedy, John, 2022. "The Performance Based Research Fund in NZ: Taking Stock and Looking Forward," Working Paper Series 21354, Victoria University of Wellington, Chair in Public Finance.
    3. Robert A. Buckle & John Creedy & Norman Gemmell, 2020. "Is external research assessment associated with convergence or divergence of research quality across universities and disciplines? Evidence from the PBRF process in New Zealand," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(36), pages 3919-3932, July.
    4. Robert A. Buckle & John Creedy & Norman Gemmell, 2020. "Is external research assessment associated with convergence or divergence of research quality across universities and disciplines? Evidence from the PBRF process in New Zealand," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(36), pages 3919-3932, July.

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