British library and information science journals: a study of

Assessment of the quality of published research is funda-mental to the research assessment process in UK universi-ties. Citation analysis has been one important method used for such assessment. This paper explores another method, by investigating the selection and refereeing processes used by journal editors. Starting from the journals in which UK LIS academics most frequently publish, the authors have described and analysed the editorial processes employed, drawing on extended interviews with editors and others. It is concluded that valid quality control mechanisms are in place, although there is an element of subjectivity in their application, and it is suggested that professional, as opposed to academic, journals can provide a valuable form of output for practice-oriented research findings. Finally, the authors note that electronic journals could be assessed by a methodology similar to that developed here. 1. Background During the last ten years, funding in higher education in the UK has undergone a radical transformation, as the Government has sought to instil ’value-for-money ’ strategies throughout the public sector. On