Assessing the assessment: an analysis of the UK Research Assessment Exercise, 2001, and its outcomes, with special reference to research in education

The primary purpose of the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) in the UK is to produce ratings of research quality. This study found that there were some issues of lack of clarity and consistency in the assignment of points for research quality among the various disciplines. There were differences in levels of sampling and in how the final grade was constructed. Education is considered in depth to exemplify the impact of the exercise and the issues facing one middle-ranked department in developing future research strategy. A strong case can be made for abandoning the RAE in favour of a strategy related more closely to the approach to teaching now commended by the White Paper for knowledge transfer universities.