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A case for using both direct and indirect benchmarking to compare university performance metrics

Harris, WE; Langan, AM; Barrett, NFS; Jack, K; Wibberley, C; Hamshire, C

Authors

WE Harris

AM Langan

NFS Barrett

K Jack

C Wibberley

C Hamshire



Abstract

Benchmarking is used in higher education as a means to improve and compare performance. Comparative metric benchmarks may take two forms, based on direct standardization (DS) or indirect standardization (IS). DS can be used to measure variation in performance between institutions, controlling for intrinsic differences at each institution (e.g. controlling for differences in student typologies). IS can be used to measure variation in performance between institutions, compared to average performance overall. Typically, IS has been used to moderate educational output metrics, such as student qualification and satisfaction. We contrast the two approaches with an example dataset for three years of nursing student completion rates from nine institutions. Profiles of benchmarks and actual performance indicated that both approaches provide valuable and different perspectives to comparisons of institutional performance. We discuss the potential merits to stakeholders of each approach and conclude that decision-making can be best informed using both benchmark methods.

Citation

Harris, W., Langan, A., Barrett, N., Jack, K., Wibberley, C., & Hamshire, C. (2018). A case for using both direct and indirect benchmarking to compare university performance metrics. Studies in Higher Education, 44(12), 2281-2292. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2018.1490893

Journal Article Type Article
Online Publication Date Jul 17, 2018
Publication Date Jul 17, 2018
Deposit Date Dec 16, 2019
Journal Studies in Higher Education
Print ISSN 0307-5079
Electronic ISSN 1470-174X
Publisher Routledge
Volume 44
Issue 12
Pages 2281-2292
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2018.1490893
Keywords Education
Publisher URL https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2018.1490893
Related Public URLs https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/cshe20/current
Additional Information Additional Information : ** From Crossref via Jisc Publications Router **Journal IDs: pissn 0307-5079; eissn 1470-174X **History: published 02-12-2019; issued 17-07-2018; published_online 17-07-2018