Engines of Anxiety: Academic Rankings, Reputation, and Accountability

Synopsis

Students And The Public Routinely Consult Various Published College Rankings To Assess The Quality Of Colleges And Universities And Easily Compare Different Schools. In Engines Of Anxiety, Sociologists Wendy Espeland And Michael Sauder Delve Deep Into The Mechanisms Of Law School Rankings, Which Have Become A Top Priority Within Legal Education. Based On A Wealth Of Observational Data And Over Two Hundred In-depth Interviews With Law Students, University Deans, And Other Administrators, They Show How The Scramble For High Rankings Has Affected The Missions And Practices Of Many Law Schools And How The Drive To Increase A School's Rankings Has Negative Consequences For Students, Educators, And Administrators. Engines Of Anxiety Has Implications For All Educational Programs That Are Quantified In Similar Ways--unedited Summary From Book Cover. The Transparency Of Transparency Measures -- Accountability By The Numbers -- 0l : How Prospective Law Students Use Rankings -- Rankings And Admissions -- Rankings At The Top : Inside The Dean's Office -- Career Services And Employment -- Rankings Everywhere. Wendy Nelson Espeland And Michael Sauder. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 250-272) And Index.