On the Dominance of Quantitative Evaluation in ‘Peripheral’ Countries: Auditing Research with Technologies of Distance

Abstract

In the last two decades many countries in the periphery of the science system have developed policies to improve the ‘quality’ of their science. These policies for ‘catching up’ with developed countries include policy instruments based on notions of ‘quality’ or ‘excellence’ – either explicitly or implicitly. An analysis of these policy instruments reveals two observations. First, they are based on quantitative evaluation methods that are implemented in a formulaic and rigid manner. Second, criteria implicit in these quantitative evaluations aim at international excellence and are thus often biased against research related to local perspectives or topics. Here we ask why these rigid quantitative approaches are often adopted in peripheral countries, in spite of the fact that they tend to disadvantage research that matters for local issues.

Keywords: Evaluation, Indicators, Peripheral countries, Trust, Audit