Strong Performance for Research Excellence Framework 2014
REF 2014 results
The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences is delighted by the REF results in which all disciplines in the Faculty improved their performance in comparison with the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) in 2008. The Faculty returned over 130 staff in 9 Units of Assessment. Overall, 74% of eligible staff were submitted, giving the Faculty a very high research intensity rating. 64% of research in the Faculty was judged to be in the top two categories, either world leading (4*) or of internationally excellent (3*) quality. 96% of the work submitted was judged to be of international quality or more. Here are some notable highlights:
- English: 71% of research graded as internationally excellent and world leading overall (3* and 4*) and 25% of its research outputs assessed as world leading (4*).
- History is in the top 3 performing subjects at Keele: 82% of its research is recognised as world leading and internationally excellent (4*and 3*).
- Philosophy: achieved 4* for both of its Impact Case Studies, resulting in a top ranking for its world-leading Impact.
- Music achieved a 100% research intensity rating with all of its research active staff being entered. As a result, it is ranked 23rd out of 84 in the Times Higher Education for research intensity.
- Psychology: 40% of its research impact are judged to be world leading (4*).
- Business and Management: 49% of outputs are considered to be world leading or internationally excellent (3* and 4*).
- Law: 26% of all research submitted was judged as world-leading, placing us within the top 22 Law Schools for world-leading research (65% world-leading or internationally excellent), and 53% of our submitted impact work was assessed as world-leading, bringing us in the Top 15 for world-leading impact work. The Times Higher Education places the School of Law in the top third for research intensity.
- Politics and International Relations is ranked 1st out of 56 in the country for research impact, with 100% of its work judged at 3* and 4* level.
- Social Policy: 74% of research is judged world leading or internationally excellent in quality (4* and 3*).
Please see below for more detailed analysis, plus links to the Schools, Research Centres and the REF2014 submissions themselves.
English improved on its 2008 Research Assessment Exercise result with 71% of research graded as internationally excellent and world-leading overall (3* and 4*) and 25% of its research outputs assessed as world-leading (4*). It achieved 90% for internationally excellent research Environment (3*), which was an increase of 60% on the previous exercise. It is also ranked 38th out of 89 for research intensity, with 87% of staff submitted.
Links:
History is in the top 3 performing subjects at Keele, gaining an overall Grade Point Average of 3.03. 82% of its research is recognised as world leading and internationally excellent (4*and 3*), a measure that places it 15th out of 83 institutions. 21% of its research overall and 30% of outputs are deemed to be in the highest category (4*). 100% of its Impact is judged to be internationally excellent (3*).
Links:
Philosophy is delighted to be awarded the highest category of 4* for both of its Impact Case Studies, resulting in a top ranking for its world-leading Impact. In addition, 60% of its research is judged to be of internationally excellent quality (3*).
Links:
29% of Music’s overall research is rated as world-leading (4*), an increase of 9% on the last national assessment exercise. It was, moreover, awarded the top category (4*) for one of its Impact Case Studies. 80% of its Environment is of internationally excellent and world-leading quality (3 and 4*), which marks a significant increase on 2008. Most impressive is its 100% research intensity rating with all of its research active staff being entered. As a result, it is ranked 23rd out of 84 in the Times Higher Education for research intensity.
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Psychology improved on its previous performance in 2008. 12% of its research is judged to be world leading (4*), and it saw a 17% increase in the proportion of research assessed at 3* and 4* (from 25% to 42%). The REF panel recognised the world-leading impact of Psychology research at Keele, awarding 40% in the 4* category. It received a research intensity rating of 81%, showing that a high percentage of staff in the School are engaged in significant research.
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Business and Management has an increased grade-point average score compared to the RAE in 2008. 49% of outputs are considered to be world leading or internationally excellent (3* and 4*). The Times Higher Education ranked Keele 55 out of 101 institutions for Research Intensity.
Links:
26% of Law's submitted research is world leading (4*) and 65% is judged at 3* and 4*. It is ranked 15th out of 67th nationally for the Impact of its research. It was also awarded a particularly high Environment GPA of 3.13, with 88% of its research activities regarded as 3* and 4*. The Times Higher Education places the School of Law in the top third for research intensity (21st out of 67).
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The highlights of the Politics and International Relations submission are the two 4* Impact Case Studies. Politics gained 100% 3* and 4* for Impact with an impressive GPA of 3.70. As a result, it is ranked 1st out of 56 in the country for the world-leading and internationally excellent impact of its research. In addition, 23% of its research is judged world leading (4*) and 45% of outputs are judged 3* and 4*.
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Social Policy scored very highly for Environment, with 100% graded as internationally excellent (3*). 74% of overall research is judged world leading or internationally excellent in quality (4* and 3*). It achieved one 4*-rated Impact Case Study. It is ranked 15th in the country for its ‘Research Power’, a ranking that takes into account research excellence and the number of people carrying out that research.