The evolution of the UK's Research Assessment Exercise: publications, performance and perceptions

This article examines how the UK Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), along with the development of performance indicators, fits into the production of research within a changing policy context. The historical evolution of the RAE from 1985-2001 is considered, before looking specifically at how research output (in the form of journal publications) was, and is, assessed. Such changes in output measurements necessitated a move from quantitative to quality evaluation, and the role of quality – perceptions and performance- is examined.