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Reacting to the Impact Agenda: Performativity and a ‘New Collegiality’

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Questioning the Assessment of Research Impact

Part of the book series: Palgrave Critical University Studies ((PCU))

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Abstract

This chapter considers the response to the impact agenda of academic researchers working in the marginal fields of tourism and related subjects. Drawing on interview data garnered from a selection of well-established researchers, including REF panel members, it finds extensive evidence of individualistic career-related performativity and widespread participation in what others have called a ‘new collegiality’ (a system of control that emphasises competition with academics external to their workplace). Notwithstanding research orientations that often emphasise the economically liberating role of tourism, or its contribution to intercultural understanding and social improvement, there was little evidence of progressive or critical performativity. An important casualty of the growing focus on impact among those interviewed appears to be the reduced emphasis given to the teaching of students. This is argued to be damaging because it undermines a potentially more fruitful alternative activity, namely research to inform teaching.

Not everyone tries. That is up to them… Because people don’t, that is why not many of us have the respect of industry.

Senior researcher interviewed for this book

I’ve seen the inexorable rise in impact and I can see what it’s doing to working cultures, demands on staff, producing new kinds of internal hierarchies etc . And yet I am advising PhDs and post docs about developing impact because I know the job market is so tough they need to be on top of this.

Research professor interviewed for this book

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  1. School of Events, Tourism and Hospitality Management, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK

    Rhodri Thomas

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  1. Rhodri Thomas
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Correspondence to Rhodri Thomas .

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Thomas, R. (2018). Reacting to the Impact Agenda: Performativity and a ‘New Collegiality’. In: Questioning the Assessment of Research Impact. Palgrave Critical University Studies. Palgrave Pivot, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95723-4_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95723-4_5

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Pivot, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-95722-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-95723-4

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

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