Beyond the Numbers: Reclaiming Academic Purpose from Performative Pressures

 

In today’s data-driven universities, research performance is often equated with metrics: citations, publications, grant income. But are we losing sight of what truly matters in academia?

Recent reflections from Elsevier’s Research MetricsGuidebook and a compelling paper by Visser et al. (Journal of Education Policy, 2024) point to a growing concern: the rise of performativity. That is, the pressure for academics to continuously prove their value through measurable outputs, often at the expense of deeper scholarly and educational contributions.

This performative culture distorts academic behaviour. Researchers may prioritise what is countable over what is meaningful. Critical activities such as teaching, mentoring, peer review, and community engagement can be undervalued simply because they are less visible

However,  metrics can still play a constructive role if used responsibly. The Elsevier guide promotes two simple but powerful rules: use more than one metric, and always pair metrics with expert judgment. This triangulation helps avoid simplistic rankings and ensures context-sensitive assessment.

A responsible metrics culture reframes the use of metrics but doesn't reject measurement. It acknowledges disciplinary diversity, career stages, and the rich variety of academic contributions. It supports, rather than distorts, academic integrity.

To shift the culture, institutions must lead: redesign evaluation processes, train staff in interpreting metrics critically, and celebrate contributions that metrics alone can’t capture.

Metrics should serve academic purpose; not replace it.