Ordering the global field of academic science: money, mission, and position

ABSTRACT

Researchers have identified the emergence of a global field of academic science. In order to understand the dynamics of this field, this study used latent profile and regression techniques to analyze data gathered for a sample of 114 research universities from around the world. Sociological theory informed the framing and conceptualization of the study. Results demonstrated that leading research universities emphasized different areas of science, that science emphasis was patterned by geographic region, and that region, resource levels, and science emphasis all predicted status in the field. Implications for theory and future research were discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Rankings
• comparative study
• academic science
• field theory
• global competition

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 University administration in many systems has the power to reallocate at least a portion of their resources to priority areas. However, this authority is not universal. In Swedish universities, for example, administrators do not have such budgetary discretion.