Faculty Members’ Performance Appraisal System: A Bibliometric Analysis of the Scientific Literature

AbstractDeciding upon faculty members’ promotion or tenure is one of the most important tasks in higher education, and it has piqued the interest of researchers from different fields. This has led to an increased number of deep studies in recent years and resulted in an increasing publication growth rate. So, it seems essential that a comprehensive analytical study be done in this field with a bibliometrics approach aiming to identify research trends and patterns in the field of faculty members’ appraisal systems. The Web of Science was utilized for data collection through a search process on August 2, 2022, in which terms related to promotion, evaluation, and faculty members were searched in the topic section of all databases. By identifying research evolution (word and thematic evolution), core journals (Scientometrics), active countries (USA, United Kingdom, and China), types of research collaboration, and leading institutions in this field, policymakers can gain insights into the current state of research in this area and make informed decisions about future directions for faculty evaluations. Policymakers can use the study’s findings to identify which institutions are leading the way in faculty appraisal research and collaborate with them to share best practices. Thematic mapping also allows for the identification of emerging research areas and helps researchers develop effective research strategies. Overall, this study’s findings can help universities and policymakers develop more evidence-based and effective faculty member evaluation policies that promote academic excellence and contribute to the overall success of higher education institutions.