This article applies DICTION computer-assisted text analysis software to evaluate the tone of research ‘Environment’ submissions by Business and Management Studies schools in the UK’s 2014 Research Evaluation Framework. We find that submissions contain distinctive differences in semantic tone between high-ranked and low-ranked universities, particularly in terms of DICTION’s master variable, ACTIVITY. The language of high-ranked institutions has a tone of low ACTIVITY, whereas the language of low-ranked institutions has a tone of high ACTIVITY. More adjectives are used than expected: by high-ranked universities to bolster strong public reputations, and by low-ranked universities to atone for weaknesses. High-ranked universities are advantaged because they are more likely to be represented on assessing panels and be better-attuned to reader expectations. The results suggest that low-ranked universities could have achieved higher scores by reflecting on particular areas of word choice and the potential effects of those choices on assessors.

中文翻译：

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2014年英国研究评估框架中研究“环境”提交的语义语气

本文使用DICTION计算机辅助文本分析软件来评估英国2014年研究评估框架中商学院和管理研究学院提交的研究“环境”论文的基调。我们发现，提交的内容在高级大学和低级大学之间在语义语调上存在显着差异，特别是在DICTION的主变量ACTIVITY方面。排名靠前的机构的语言语气低活跃度，而排名靠前的机构的语言语气高活跃度。形容词使用的数量比预期的多：高级大学以增强强大的公共声誉，低级大学以弥补劣势。一流大学的优势在于，它们更有可能派代表参加评估小组，并更好地满足读者的期望。结果表明，排名较低的大学可以通过思考单词选择的特定领域以及这些选择对评估者的潜在影响来获得更高的分数。