Social studies of the humanities: a case study of research conditions and performance in ancient history and classical archaeology, and English

Research conditions and production in two humanistic disciplines — ancient history and classical archaeology (AHLA), and English are described and compared. A theoretical framework from research evaluation studies which emphasised mediating process factors in conjunction with input factors to explain research output was applied. Results of a questionnaire and interviews showed that the production of publications was generally larger in AHLA than English. The Pearson correlations between the number of researchers and publications and the number of PhD degrees were moderate and high, respectively, in AHLA. In English, both correlation figures were lower. Common features of the two disciplines were a cosmopolitical direction, similar publication profiles and research quality conceptions. Distinguishing factors were related to theoretical, working style and organisational conditions which may have influenced productivity differences.