Engines of Anxiety: Academic Rankings, Reputation, and Accountability

294 Pages·2016·1.853 MB·English

by  Wendy Nelson Espeland, Michael Sauder, Wendy Espeland

ENGINES OF
ANXIETY

ENGINES OF
ANXIETY
Academic Rankings,
Reputation, and
Accountability
Wendy Nelson Espeland
and
Michael Sauder
Russell Sage Foundation
New York
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BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Sara S. McLanahan, Chair
Larry M. Bartels Lawrence F. Katz Claude M. Steele
Karen S. Cook David Laibson Shelley E. Taylor
W. Bowman Cutter III Nicholas Lemann Richard H. Thaler
Sheldon Danziger Martha Minow Hirokazu Yoshikawa
Kathryn Edin Peter R. Orszag
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Espeland, Wendy Nelson, author. | Sauder, Michael, author.
Title: Engines of anxiety : academic rankings, reputation, and accountability /
Wendy Nelson Espeland and Michael Sauder.
Description: New York : Russell Sage Foundation, [2016] | Includes bibliographical
references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2015041225 (print) | LCCN 2015042663 (ebook) |
ISBN 9780871544278
(pbk. : alk. paper) | ISBN 9781610448567 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Law schools—Ratings and rankings—United States.
Classification: LCC KF272 .E836 2016 (print) | LCC KF272 (ebook) |
DDC 340.071/1073—dc23
LC record available at http://cp.mcafee.com/d/FZsSd2gs739J5xxUQsEIFzDztPqtPhO-
qekTDAPhOrjKqenPhOCYqekm3qtPhO-qekTDCkjqadT3hOUOMYyrlSdLfG2E
QQz_00jsqqh_w09J0sqetI-U_R-josu73KLsKCO_vDSbIFTVqWdAklrzD-l3PWAp
mU6CQjq9K_9Tspu76zAs-UrKr01DSJ3zWSUzkPytQnXI8FFLCXkGS2zWSUzk
Orpv7fCMnVClfgd40A6xoQg8rfjh0Xm9Ewd78VWXMV5ZxxcsYrpodX7UDjenD
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Contents
About the Authors ix
Acknowledgments xi
Chapter 1 The Transparency of
Transparency Measures 1
Chapter 2 Accountability by the Numbers 19
Chapter 3 0L: How Prospective Law Students
Use Rankings 40
Chapter 4 Rankings and Admissions 60
Chapter 5 Rankings at the Top:
Inside the Dean’s Office 100
Chapter 6 Career Services and Employment 134
Chapter 7 Rankings Everywhere 172
Appendix A: Methods and Data 202
Appendix B: U.S. News’ Methodology
for Calculating Rankings, by Category 217
Notes 219
References 250
Index 273

About the Authors
Wendy nelson espeland is professor of sociology at Northwestern
University.
Michael sauder is associate professor of sociology at the University of
Iowa.
ix