Factor analysis of end-to-end performance evaluation of Italian higher education institutions

We carry out an end-to-end bibliometric performance analysis of Italian higher education institutions (HEIs) using data from the latest (2014) release of the Scimago Institutions Rankings (SIR). We track six variables through the following chain: inputoutput-excellence-outcome-productivity. Factor analysis (FA) then allows us to ascertain that the primary indicators are orthogonal and represent a quantity and a quality/productivity dimension respectively. Productivity of research is computed either in term of output or outcome. The quantity dimension is size-dependent while the quality and productivity dimension is size independent. We also carry out an analysis of performance according to the geographical area where Italian HEIs are located.