Citation counts and the Research Assessment Exercise, part VI: Unit of assessment 67 (music)

Introduction: This study aimed to explore research assessment within the field of music and, specifically, to investigate whether citation counting could be used to replace or inform the peer review system currently in use in the UK. Method: A citation analysis of academics submitted for peer review in Unit of Assessment 67 in the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise was performed using the Arts and Humanities Citation Index and checked for correlations with the Assessment scores. A Spearman rank order correlation coefficient test was used to assess the significance of correlations between citations and scores. Results: At a departmental level, citation counts correlated strongly with scores awarded by the Assessment Exercise. A weaker correlation was found between scores and individual counts. The correlations were significant at the 0.01% level. Types of submission were analysed and trends were found within the author group. However, the Arts and Humanities Citation Index was found to be unrepresentative of music research activity in UK universities due to its choice of source material. Conclusion: The Arts and Humanities Citation Index alone is not a suitable data source for citation analysis in the field of music. However, if an alternative data source could be found, there is potential for the use of citation analysis in research assessment in music. (Contains 14 tables, 3 figures, and 1 note.)