Wróblewska, Marta Natalia (2018) The making of the “impact agenda” : a study in discourse and governmentality. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

The introduction of the ‘impact’ component constitutes a major change in the evaluation of academic work. While various systems of impact evaluation exist, the most articulated one implemented to date is the British REF2014 with its Impact Agenda. This thesis investigates the discursive aspects of the introduction of the Agenda and its consequences for academic identities. Drawing from linguistic pragmatics and Foucauldian discourse analysis I look at shifts related to the Agenda on three stages, in chronological order: 1) the emergence of the notion of ‘impact’ in policy and its appropriation on a local level within universities, 2) the consolidation of a new genre of writing – impact case study, 3) academics’ self-positioning towards the assessment after REF 2014.

I start by arguing that as a notion ‘impact’ was co-constructed by many subjects who played various roles in a polyphonic discussion. I later describe how procedures and practices emerged around the notion within departments, contributing to the creation of an ‘apparatus’. I then focus on its crucial element – a new genre of academic writing. I suggest that learning to write impact case studies was key in acquiring a new ‘professional vision’. Finally, on the basis of interviews with authors of case studies, I investigate the influence of the Agenda on academics’ perception of their own role as academics.

My thesis describes the introduction of impact assessment in British academia as a process of ‘problematization’ of a previously non-regulated area and as a trigger of new practices of ‘subjectivation’ of the academic self. The study aims to open new pathways in combining post-structuralist and interactionist approaches to discourse and in applying them to the study of academic settings.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Subjects:	L Education > L Education (General)
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Educational evaluation, Research, Universities and colleges -- Graduate work
Official Date:	June 2018
Dates:	Date Event June 2018 UNSPECIFIED
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Centre for Applied Linguistics
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Angermuller, Johannes, 1973- ; MacDonald, Malcolm N. ; Liddicoat, Anthony, 1962-
Sponsors:	European Research Council
Format of File:	pdf
Extent:	viii, 316 leaves : illustrations
Language:	eng

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