Abstract
This article uses the method devised by Simon Hix to rank the research performance of political science departments on the basis of publications in high-quality journals. We replicate Hix's methodology to assess the performance of politics departments in Ireland from 2003 to 2007. We are very aware that the Hix method provides only a partial measure of research performance and an even more incomplete measure of academic performance generally. However, by examining publications in Hix's list of journals for the period 2003–2007 and by comparing the findings with his 1998–2002 report, we are able to draw some tentative conclusions about the research trajectory of Irish politics departments.
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Notes
Hix includes a small number of journals that are not included in the SSCI.
We believe these results are robust. As a check, we used Hix's ‘quasi-error’. This computes highest and lowest scores as if each department had one more mean impact article and 5 per cent less staff versus one less mean impact article and 5 per cent more staff. Each university's highest and lowest scores were then compared to the original scores for the other five universities. The use of highest or lowest scores causes Galway and Cork to exchange fifth and sixth places. Limerick's average rank does not change. DCU's lowest score leaves it at 3, while its highest score moves it up to 2.75. Trinity's highest score gives it an unequivocal top ranking, while its lowest score leaves it at 1.25. Finally, UCD's highest score does not change its rank, but its lowest score moves it down to 2.
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Elgie, R., Mcmenamin, I. Journal Publications from Politics Departments in Ireland 2003–2007: An Update Using the Hix Method. Eur Polit Sci 8, 104–112 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1057/eps.2008.50
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/eps.2008.50