Quarterly of Educational Measurement

Abstract The primary objective of this study was to devise and validate a model for evaluating the quality of academic research within universities specializing in humanities and social sciences. This was carried out through an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design, consisting of two separate stages: a qualitative and a quantitative phase. In the initial stage of the study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 experts to gather data on academic research quality. The information obtained from these interviews was then analyzed using grounding theory principles, resulting in the abstraction of semantic codes pertinent to academic research quality. Through a methodical approach, the qualitative data was analyzed in a three-stage process, encompassing open coding, axial coding, and selective coding. This analysis led to the recognition of 503 concepts and 29 subcategories. These elements were then systematically organized into eight principal categories. The quantitative aspect of the study involved the formulation of a researcher-designed questionnaire, constructed based on the eight main categories, 29 subcategories, and 503 concepts identified in the previous phase. This questionnaire was then administered to a sample of 95 individuals, chosen through convenience sampling, who were faculty members from higher education institutions specializing in humanities and social sciences. A statistical appraisal encompassing descriptive and inferential methods was conducted on the questionnaire data. The validation of the model, both in its overall format and within its submodels, divulged that the factor loading values associated with the questionnaire items, in addition to the connections between the subcategories and principal categories, align with a standard range, thus generally substantiating the model's compatibility and validity. This study's outcomes can offer a methodical definition of academic research quality within the realms of humanities and social sciences, thereby contributing to the advancement of research excellence in these domains.