Why and How Rankings Change?

The availability of ever more abundant volume of data allows for a more sophisticated approach to rankings but at the same time forces changes in their methodology. The authors of a resent article "How to survive changes in ranking methodology" published by the University World News have taken a closer look at the changes that have been or are being introduced into some of the most popular academic rankings and the pitfalls that the changes may cause. Explaining why changes in methodology are both necessary and inevitable, Richard Holmes and Waldemar Siwinski warn against possible problems that changes may bring, especially for universities. They appeal to ranking organizations to follow good practice when introducing changes in methodology in order to be fair to universities and at the same maintain rankings stability and credibility. More...