different researchers obtain differentfindings due to their different uses of indicator
system to evaluate the same targets. This problem lowers the objectivity of evaluation.
Therefore, we need to seriously consider how to construct a proper and feasible
indicator system, to evaluate Chinese university research efficiency.
Table 4.1 Indicator system in Chinese empirical studies on university research efficiency
Authors Input variables Output variables
Lu et al. ( 2005 )
and Lu and Liu
( 2006 )Number of research staff; Number
of research assistant; Research
grants from governments;
Research funds from other sourcesNumber of R&D projects; Number
of projects related to R&D
application and service; Number of
monographs; Number of
international articles; Number of
Chinese articles; Number of
accredited research outcomes;
Number of licensed patents;
Current-year revenue from patent
transferring
Tian and Miao
( 2005 )Research staff; Ratio of Senior
Title; FTE R&D staff; R&D
expenses (current year); Total
investment in projectsNumber of monographs; Number
of articles; Ratio of international to
total articles; Number of accredited
research outcomes; Revenue from
patent transferring
Sun et al. ( 2007 ) R&D staff; R&D expenses Number of monographs; Number
of articles; Number of IPs;
Revenue from patent transferring
Hu and Liang
( 2007 )Number of R&D staff; Ratio of
senior to total R&D staff; Per
capita R&D expenses; Per capita
projects; Average funding of
research projectsPer capita monographs; Per capita
international and Chinese articles;
Per capita revenue of patent
transferring; Per capita awards;
National level awards
Li and Ren
( 2009 )Teaching expenses; Research
expenses; Total number of
teaching and research staffNumber of licensed patents;
Revenue of technology
transferring; Number of
monographs; Number of articles;
Contract value of patent
transferring; Number of national
science and technology awards
Xu ( 2009 ) Number of teaching and research
staff; R&D staff; Research
expensesNumber of monographs; Number
of articles; Real income of
technology transferring; Number
of national level awards
Luo ( 2009 ) FTE R&D staff; Number of
scientists and engineers; Research
expensesDirect outcomes (monographs,
articles, licensed patents); Indirect
outcomes (real income of
technology transferring); National
level awards
Han and Li
( 2010 )R&D staff in social sciences; R&D
expensesNumber of monographs; Number
of articles; Profits of research
products4.1 Indicator System Construction and Data Sources 117