The production of scholarly knowledge in the global market arena: University ranking systems, prestige and power

Abstract

The relationships between disciplines and the institutions within which they are situated is a fertile area for researching the shaping of sociological knowledge. Applying theoretical insights from the sociology of knowledge, this article draws on an empirical study of research publications in the sociology of health and medicine to show which institutions in the Australian context are most likely to use sociological theory. When the institutions are positioned within the global university ranking system, an inverse association between sociological theory and the relative wealth and prestige of the originating institution becomes evident. Some of the implications of this finding are discussed with reference to the on-going viability of disciplines.

Keywords:

• academic capitalism
• higher education
• knowledge production
• sociology
• transnationalism
• university rankings

Notes

1. 1. Colleges of Advanced Education were a creation of the Menzies government. Initially Teachers Colleges, they eventually broadened their offerings to award diplomas and certificates in subjects such as pharmacy. Institutes of Technology were also vocationally oriented institutions, focusing on the applied sciences, electronics and technology.

2. 2. The Shanghai Jiao Tong University Academic Ranking of World Universities can be found at http://www.shanghairanking.com/FieldSOC2011.html.

3. 3. The Times Higher Education rankings can be found at http:www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings.

4. 4. The methodology for the Quacquarelli Symonds rankings can be found at: http://www.topuniversities.com/world-university-rankings/understanding-qs-world-university-rankings-methodology. The QS World University Rankings system collaborated with The Times until 2010, at which point they parted with considerable animosity. Both offer essentially the same methodology, ostensibly measuring performance according to subject area.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Fran Collyer

Fran Collyer is a sociologist at the University of Sydney, National Convenor of the Health Section of The Australian Sociological Association, a member of the Health Governance Network, and former editor of the Health Sociology Review. Fran publishes in the fields of the sociology of science, technology, history and health and is co-author of Public Enterprise Divestment: Australian Case Studies (2001) and author of Mapping the Sociology of Health and Medicine (2012).