Title: Rankings, Ruling and Reproducing Inequities: Critiquing the Knowledge Production of Social Work's "Top 100 Scholars".
Authors: Baines, Donna; Bennett, Bindi; Urban, Karl
Abstract: Reflecting on an article authored by Hodge and Turner (2023) that ranks the "top" 100 social work scholars, this article presents a multi-layered critique of the tradition of using bibliometrics to generate "knowledge" and competitive global rankings of individual social work faculty members, departments and universities. We raise concerns regarding the transformation of neoliberal metrics into social work research questions and projects, and then solidified into competitive, martketised knowledge about social work and its scholars. We argue that through this process, inequity and neoliberalism are normalized and legitimized, and we are further distanced from social justice, decolonization, and equity. The article provides alternative assessments grounded in community participation and social justice and aimed at expanding equity and social justice.
Subjects: SOCIAL services; SOCIAL participation; COMMUNITY involvement; SOCIAL work research; RESEARCH questions
Publication: Journal of Progressive Human Services, 2024, Vol 35, Issue 3, p202
ISSN: 1042-8232
Publication type: Academic Journal
DOI: 10.1080/10428232.2024.2434788

Rankings, Ruling and Reproducing Inequities: Critiquing the Knowledge Production of Social Work's "Top 100 Scholars".

Baines, Donna; Bennett, Bindi; Urban, Karl