This section presents analyses of the changes in output volume over the ERA 2018 reference period at the two- and four-digit discipline levels.
Two-digit discipline growth
In ERA 2018, the total volume of outputs (i.e. all output types excluding portfolios which do not report by year in the submitted data) increased over the ERA reference period from 74,817 in 2011 to 87,372 in 2016, which represented a 17 per cent growth on 2011 levels. The majority of two-digit disciplines grew from 2011, with many experiencing steady, year on year increases. The exceptions were 02 Physical Sciences and 15 Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services which finished the reference period at a slightly lower volume than in 2011.
The percentage growth in the volume of outputs from 2011 to 2016 varied between the disciplines ranging from 34 per cent for 11 Medical and Health Sciences to a decline of two per cent for 15 Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services. Other disciplines with high growth in outputs include 05 Environmental Sciences (30 per cent), 13 Education (22 per cent) and 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences (22 per cent).
The table and chart show the trends in volume data for disciplines in more detail.
Two-digit discipline growth between 2011 and 2016
Trends in two-digit discipline growth
Four-digit discipline growth
The average discipline growth for all four-digit disciplines was 17 per cent growth. The percentage growth in submitted outputs from 2011 to 2016 was calculated for all four-digit disciplines that had more than 1,000 outputs over the whole ERA output reference period (disciplines with less than 1,000 outputs were considered too small to discern a meaningful trend). Most four-digit disciplines grew over the period 2011 to 2016 (98 out of 118 in this selected sample), with only 17 showing negative growth.
In absolute terms, the disciplines that showed the largest volume of growth were 1117 Public Health and Health Services (1,475.4 more outputs in 2016) and 1103 Clinical Sciences (1,159.2 more outputs in 2016 than in 2011).
The table presents output data for the four-digit disciplines (with at least 1000 outputs over the ERA reference period) that showed growth over the period 2011 to 2016 that was at or above the average rate of 17 per cent. The charts show trends in the output growth for the top ten four-digit disciplines in HASS and STEM.