The aim of the study is to demonstrate, via the use of the discipline
of Education, a procedure to identify and weight the importance of var
ious indicators of research productivity which in turn have become sig
nificant components in determining quality within and between universi
ties. The methodology allows for the identification of indicators that
are most important, and ascertains if there are differences among aca
demics as to the relative weighting of the various research indicators
. Highly valued indicators of research productivity amongst the Educat
ion academics were refereed journal articles, peer reviewed books, and
major competitive research grants. Refereeing was critical in the det
ermination of quality in research productivity, and the findings gener
alized across many academics regardless of their own personal producti
vity. It is recommended that the methodology can serve to determine th
e tacit weights that academics within and across disciplines attach to
various research products. At least, this method makes academics and
administrators aware of the weightings they are actually using when ma
king decisions about the quality of academic departments.