This paper investigates the use of metrics to recruit professors for academic positions. We analyzed confidential reports with candidate evaluations in economics, sociology, physics, and informatics at the University of Oslo between 2000 and 2017. These unique data enabled us to explore how metrics were applied in these evaluations in relation to other assessment criteria. Despite being important evaluation criteria, metrics were seldom the most salient criteria in candidate evaluations. Moreover, metrics were applied chiefly as a screening tool to decrease the number of eligible candidates and not as a replacement for peer review. Contrary to the literature suggesting an escalation of metrics, we foremost detected stable assessment practices with only a modestly increased reliance on metrics. In addition, the use of metrics proved strongly dependent on disciplines where the disciplines applied metrics corresponding to their evaluation cultures. These robust evaluation practices provide an empirical example of how core university processes are chiefly characterized by path-dependency mechanisms, and only moderately by isomorphism. Additionally, the disciplinary-dependent spread of metrics offers a theoretical illustration of how travelling standards such as metrics are not only diffused but rather translated to fit the local context, resulting in heterogeneity and context-dependent spread.

中文翻译：

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学术招聘中的文献计量学：筛选工具而不是游戏规则改变者

本文调查了使用指标招聘教授担任学术职位的情况。我们分析了 2000 年至 2017 年奥斯陆大学经济学、社会学、物理学和信息学候选人评估的机密报告。这些独特的数据使我们能够探索如何在这些评估中应用与其他评估标准相关的指标。尽管是重要的评估标准，但指标很少是候选人评估中最重要的标准。此外，指标主要用作筛选工具以减少合格候选人的数量，而不是作为同行评审的替代品。与建议指标升级的文献相反，我们首先检测到稳定的评估实践，只是适度增加了对指标的依赖。此外，事实证明，指标的使用强烈依赖于学科应用与其评估文化相对应的指标。这些稳健的评估实践提供了一个实证示例，说明核心大学流程如何主要以路径依赖机制为特征，而仅适度地以同构为特征。此外，度量的学科依赖传播提供了一个理论说明，说明诸如度量之类的旅行标准如何不仅被扩散，而且还被转化为适应当地环境，从而导致异质性和依赖于环境的传播。并且仅适度地通过同构。此外，度量的学科依赖传播提供了一个理论说明，说明诸如度量之类的旅行标准如何不仅被传播，而且被转化为适应当地环境，从而导致异质性和依赖于环境的传播。并且仅适度地通过同构。此外，度量的学科依赖传播提供了一个理论说明，说明诸如度量之类的旅行标准如何不仅被扩散，而且还被转化为适应当地环境，从而导致异质性和依赖于环境的传播。