Institutional expenditures on computing technology and the relative status of universities and colleges

William Gerard McCartney, Purdue University

Abstract

Using a neo-Weberian model this work focuses on the changing nature of the university in modern society. Particularly noted is the changing nature of what is understood to be knowledge and the role of technology adoption in the creation of this knowledge. I argue that modern knowledge is computationally oriented and favors the method of the natural sciences, a method that differs from the traditional discursive discovery of the classically-based liberal arts university. I also review the nature of the use of technology in modern social organizations. Technology is understood as at least in part the product of a political process flowing not from some independent purely technical path. In this way, some technology writers have argued that the new computing technology will serve to democratize society by making available inexpensive technology to all. Using Parkin's notion of closure, I show how prestigious institutions work to preserve their ascendancy by investing in leading edge research facilities which poorer institutions cannot match. Those institutions that fail to make this investment suffer declines in status. I review the literature surrounding a large number of indicators of university status. This examination reveals that there are only two satisfactory measures of status: external research income and number of post-doctoral students. Using comprehensive budgeting and descriptive data drawn every four years from the 3500 institutions of higher education in the United States over the period 1972-1992, I focus first on patterns distinguishing general classes of institution. I then focus particularly on the premier research institutions. By performing a comprehensive factor analysis and then using LISREL VIII, path diagrams are created to describe the relationships between key institutional measures and relative status. In both sets of analysis, those institutions which have systematically over-invested in computing technology have improved their status while those which under-invested have suffered reduced standing. I conclude that far from revolutionizing the hierarchical structure between universities, computing technology will serve to reinforce existing differences by offering yet another axis by which to exert superiority.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Anderson, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Social structure|Higher education|Information Systems|Library science

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