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Webster, David S. – 1984
The "Flexner Report" of 1910, which described 155 U.S. and Canadian medical schools, is discussed, along with its influence on later studies of academic quality. Scholars almost universally agree that the Flexner Report dramatically changed the nature of medical education in the United States, although they disagree about how this…
Descriptors: Colleges, Comparative Analysis, Educational History, Educational Quality
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Webster, David S. – New Directions for Higher Education, 1984
Evidence is presented both for and against the proposition that innovation is punished by surveys that rank academic quality. Systematic work is needed to show how innovation, experimentation, and lack of orthodoxy in research and teaching affect Ph.D. programs' ratings in academic quality rankings. (Author/MLW)
Descriptors: Doctoral Programs, Educational Innovation, Educational Quality, Graduate Study
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Webster, David S.; Skinner, Tad – Change, 1996
A discussion of the National Research Council's 1995 ranking of research-doctorate programs in the United States criticizes the report for what it does not address, particularly comparisons with the information it disseminated in a 1982 report, some data discrepancies, and central issues such as an institution's available methods of instruction,…
Descriptors: Comparative Analysis, Doctoral Programs, Higher Education, Institutional Characteristics
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Webster, David S. – Change, 1986
Quality rankings of undergraduate institutions and programs do exist although they are hard to find and often ignored. The accuracy of these ratings and how they can be improved are discussed. (MLW)
Descriptors: Academic Standards, Comparative Analysis, Data Analysis, Educational Quality
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Webster, David S. – Change, 1983
The five-volume Assessment of Research-Doctorate Programs in the United States, the most authoritative academic quality ranking ever done, is discussed. The Assessment covers 2,699 programs in 32 disciplines and assesses a faculty's reputation for scholarly quality. Improvements in programs' reputations are also discussed. (MLW)
Descriptors: Comparative Analysis, Doctoral Programs, Educational Quality, Graduate Study
Warf, Barney; Webster, David S. – 1980
All of the major academic quality rankings of American Ph.D.-granting geography departments during 1925-80 are examined, and trends in the universities and regions in which the best Ph.D.-granting geography departments have been located are analyzed. Seven major ratings of geography departments are considered. Reputational rankings were conducted…
Descriptors: Departments, Doctoral Programs, Educational Assessment, Educational History
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Webster, David S. – Review of Higher Education, 1985
Previous college department rankings based on the evaluations of others in the field are examined for their weaknesses, and the requirements of an adequate institutional ranking system are discussed. (MSE)
Descriptors: College Faculty, Departments, Educational Quality, Evaluation Criteria
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Webster, David S.; Conrad, Clifton F. – New Directions for Institutional Research, 1986
While department and program quality rankings could be based on such factors as how well the faculty teach, advise students, and perform service roles, in practice most rankings measuring achievement in graduate departments have been based on faculty research performance of various kinds. (Author/MSE)
Descriptors: College Faculty, Departments, Evaluation Criteria, Graduate Study
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Webster, David S. – Research in Higher Education, 1990
Analysis of six reputational rankings of English departments since 1925 indicates most of the highest-ranking departments have been in private universities. There has been great stability in the highest-ranked departments during this period, with few entering or leaving the group. (Author/MSE)
Descriptors: Comparative Analysis, Doctoral Degrees, Educational Change, Educational History
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Webster, David S. – Change, 1981
Ranking American colleges, universities, and individual departments according to their academic quality is discussed. Six types of methodology used are identified: reputational rankings; faculty awards, honors, and prizes; citations in citation indexes; alumni achievements; scores of entering students on standardized tests; and institutional…
Descriptors: Alumni, Awards, Citations (References), College Faculty
Webster, David S. – 1986
Past and current methods used in academic quality rankings of U.S. colleges and universities are discussed. In addition to a literature and historical review, modern quality rankings are compared with early (pre-1959) rankings, including past rankings of medical, dental, legal and black education. Also considered are the exemplary 1982 evaluation…
Descriptors: Academic Achievement, Accrediting Agencies, College Faculty, College Students
Webster, David S. – 1979
Evaluation methods for master's degree programs should be substantially different from those currently used for doctoral degree programs. Three current methods, that of Beverley Hurlbert, that of Jack Gourman, and that using departmental reputations as the major criterion, are insufficient. Elements that should be included in the evaluation are…
Descriptors: College Environment, College Faculty, Departments, Educational Facilities