Self‐ and Peer‐Assessment Disparities in University Ranking Schemes

Abstract

University rankings often include surveys that involve self‐assessments, but little is known about the effects of these self‐assessments on results. This paper tests for the existence of leniency effects and differential leniency effects, terms borrowed from the performance assessment literature, with a data set of ratings and rankings of Australian university disciplines by Australian academics. It finds support for the leniency effect – these academics rate and rank their own universities higher than others do. It finds less support, however, for the differential leniency effect – academics at the lower‐rated universities do not seem to overrate their universities more than do academics from the higher‐rated universities. 1. The author would like to thank Ross Williams, Eric R.A.N. Smith, Dean Goodman, and Roger Wilkins for their comments on drafts of this article.