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The journal quality perception gap

Author

Listed:
  • Cormac Bryce

    (Cass Business School - City University London)

  • Michael Dowling

    (Rennes SB - Rennes School of Business)

  • Brian Lucey

    (Trinity College Dublin)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Cormac Bryce & Michael Dowling & Brian Lucey, 2020. "The journal quality perception gap," Post-Print hal-02567479, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-02567479
    DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2020.103957
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    Cited by:

    1. Domingo Docampo & Vicente Safón, 2021. "Journal ratings: a paper affiliation methodology," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(9), pages 8063-8090, September.
    2. Thelwall, Mike & Kousha, Kayvan & Stuart, Emma & Makita, Meiko & Abdoli, Mahshid & Wilson, Paul & Levitt, Jonathan, 2023. "Do bibliometrics introduce gender, institutional or interdisciplinary biases into research evaluations?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(8).
    3. Morgan-Thomas, Anna & Tsoukas, Serafeim & Dudau, Adina & Gąska, Paweł, 2024. "Beyond declarations: Metrics, rankings and responsible assessment," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(10).
    4. Tian, Jinfang & Zhang, Mingxuan & Xue, Rui & Cao, Wei & Shan, Yuli, 2022. "The face of achievement: Editors' facial structure and journal performance," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    5. Zeynep Didem Unutmaz Durmuşoğlu & Alptekin Durmuşoğlu, 2021. "A TOPSIS model for understanding the authors choice of journal selection," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(1), pages 521-543, January.
    6. Hudson, Robert, 2024. "Responding to incentives or gaming the system? How UK business academics respond to the Academic Journal Guide," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(9).
    7. Paolo Fantozzi & Valerio Ficcadenti & Maurizio Naldi, 2025. "The university research assessment dilemma: a decision support system for the next evaluation campaigns," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 130(3), pages 1617-1658, March.
    8. Wu, Dengsheng & Su, Qiudan & Li, Jianping, 2025. "Identification of home bias in journal ranking lists," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 19(3).
    9. Berninger, Marc & Kiesel, Florian & Schiereck, Dirk & Gaar, Eduard, 2021. "Citations and the readers’ information-extracting costs of finance articles," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    10. Piotr Śpiewanowski & Oleksandr Talavera, 2021. "Journal rankings and publication strategy," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(4), pages 3227-3242, April.
    11. Auschra, Carolin & Bartosch, Julia & Lohmeyer, Nora, 2022. "Differences in female representation in leading management and organization journals: Establishing a benchmark," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(3).
    12. Brooks, Chris & Schopohl, Lisa & Walker, James T., 2023. "Comparing perceptions of the impact of journal rankings between fields," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).

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