Abstract: Abstract: To see the difference among various objective weighting methods, the world 200 universities are re-ranked using the six methods, such as principal component analysis, factor analysis, TOPSIS, rank sum ratio, grey system, and entropy weight based on 2007 Times world university ranking data originally given by Times Higher Eduation Supplement, then the new rankings are compared with Times rankings. The results show that objective weighting can’t be ensured entirely. Evaluation objects sitting in middle range of data series would get bigger ranking difference than those sitting on the two ends of data series when using different evaluation methods if the data present the normal distribution. Objective evaluation methods seem more appropriate to attribute evaluated institutes into macro-scale rough categories. The gap between evaluated institutes affects the agreement among different objective evaluation results. The future trend seems to conduct more assessment exercises which combine subjective weighting methods with objective weighting methods.

Key words: scientific and technology evaluation, objective weighting, subjective weighting, university ranking