---
_id: '61869'
abstract:
- lang: eng
  text: "There are few things left on earth that people have not attempted to measure.
    From temperature to time, from finances to football, numbers are a crucial mediator
    of how we perceive and understand the world we live in. Increasingly, however,
    it is humans themselves who are the subject of quantification. Our fitness and
    success, even our personality traits and attractiveness, are now the stuff of
    scales and scores. But what does it do to us to be on the receiving end of such
    measurement?\r\n\r\nOne of the world’s most successful global metrics is the school
    grade. Long predating the digital age, educational marks can be traced back at
    least to sixteenth-century European schools and have since conquered the world,
    becoming the indicator of academic achievement.   \r\n\r\nTo understand what it
    means to be quantified, Noëlle Rohde undertook in-depth fieldwork in a German
    comprehensive school where students receive more than one hundred grades per year.
    By staying close to the pupils as they are continually examined and assessed,
    her ethnography illustrates how marks mould students’ self-images, how they enforce
    meritocratic thinking and serve as a potent disciplinary tool. Marked: School
    Grades and the Quantified Life not only offers a nuanced account of the effects
    of grades on students, but also tells a cautionary tale of the increasing quantification
    of human life. "
alternative_title:
- '[Winner of the 2024 LSE First Book Competition]'
author:
- first_name: Noëlle
  full_name: Rohde, Noëlle
  id: '114557'
  last_name: Rohde
  orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8703-8738
citation:
  ama: Rohde N. <i>Marked. School Grades and the Quantified Life</i>. London School
    of Economics (LSE) Press doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.31389/lsepress.mar">https://doi.org/10.31389/lsepress.mar</a>
  apa: Rohde, N. (n.d.). <i>Marked. School Grades and the Quantified Life</i>. London
    School of Economics (LSE) Press. <a href="https://doi.org/10.31389/lsepress.mar">https://doi.org/10.31389/lsepress.mar</a>
  bibtex: '@book{Rohde, place={London}, series={LSE Monographs on Social Anthropology},
    title={Marked. School Grades and the Quantified Life}, DOI={<a href="https://doi.org/10.31389/lsepress.mar">https://doi.org/10.31389/lsepress.mar</a>},
    publisher={London School of Economics (LSE) Press}, author={Rohde, Noëlle}, collection={LSE
    Monographs on Social Anthropology} }'
  chicago: 'Rohde, Noëlle. <i>Marked. School Grades and the Quantified Life</i>. LSE
    Monographs on Social Anthropology. London: London School of Economics (LSE) Press,
    n.d. <a href="https://doi.org/10.31389/lsepress.mar">https://doi.org/10.31389/lsepress.mar</a>.'
  ieee: 'N. Rohde, <i>Marked. School Grades and the Quantified Life</i>. London: London
    School of Economics (LSE) Press.'
  mla: Rohde, Noëlle. <i>Marked. School Grades and the Quantified Life</i>. London
    School of Economics (LSE) Press, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.31389/lsepress.mar">https://doi.org/10.31389/lsepress.mar</a>.
  short: N. Rohde, Marked. School Grades and the Quantified Life, London School of
    Economics (LSE) Press, London, n.d.
date_created: 2025-10-16T14:46:28Z
date_updated: 2026-04-08T09:31:51Z
department:
- _id: '175'
doi: https://doi.org/10.31389/lsepress.mar
language:
- iso: eng
main_file_link:
- open_access: '1'
oa: '1'
place: London
publication_status: inpress
publisher: London School of Economics (LSE) Press
series_title: LSE Monographs on Social Anthropology
status: public
title: Marked. School Grades and the Quantified Life
type: book
user_id: '114557'
year: '2026'
...
---
_id: '61867'
author:
- first_name: Noëlle
  full_name: Rohde, Noëlle
  id: '114557'
  last_name: Rohde
  orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8703-8738
citation:
  ama: 'Rohde N. The Meritocratic Ideal and its Challenges. In: Sidhu R, Waters J,
    Cheng Y, eds. <i>The Elgar International Encyclopedia of Sociology of Education</i>.
    Edward Elgar Publishing ; 2025:205-208. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035315673.00058">https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035315673.00058</a>'
  apa: Rohde, N. (2025). The Meritocratic Ideal and its Challenges. In R. Sidhu, J.
    Waters, &#38; Y. Cheng (Eds.), <i>The Elgar International Encyclopedia of Sociology
    of Education</i> (pp. 205–208). Edward Elgar Publishing . <a href="https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035315673.00058">https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035315673.00058</a>
  bibtex: '@inbook{Rohde_2025, place={Cheltenham}, title={The Meritocratic Ideal and
    its Challenges}, DOI={<a href="https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035315673.00058">https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035315673.00058</a>},
    booktitle={The Elgar International Encyclopedia of Sociology of Education}, publisher={Edward
    Elgar Publishing }, author={Rohde, Noëlle}, editor={Sidhu, Ravinder and Waters,
    Johanna and Cheng, Yi’En}, year={2025}, pages={205–208} }'
  chicago: 'Rohde, Noëlle. “The Meritocratic Ideal and Its Challenges.” In <i>The
    Elgar International Encyclopedia of Sociology of Education</i>, edited by Ravinder
    Sidhu, Johanna Waters, and Yi’En Cheng, 205–8. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing
    , 2025. <a href="https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035315673.00058">https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035315673.00058</a>.'
  ieee: 'N. Rohde, “The Meritocratic Ideal and its Challenges,” in <i>The Elgar International
    Encyclopedia of Sociology of Education</i>, R. Sidhu, J. Waters, and Y. Cheng,
    Eds. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing , 2025, pp. 205–208.'
  mla: Rohde, Noëlle. “The Meritocratic Ideal and Its Challenges.” <i>The Elgar International
    Encyclopedia of Sociology of Education</i>, edited by Ravinder Sidhu et al., Edward
    Elgar Publishing , 2025, pp. 205–08, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035315673.00058">https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035315673.00058</a>.
  short: 'N. Rohde, in: R. Sidhu, J. Waters, Y. Cheng (Eds.), The Elgar International
    Encyclopedia of Sociology of Education, Edward Elgar Publishing , Cheltenham,
    2025, pp. 205–208.'
date_created: 2025-10-16T14:43:17Z
date_updated: 2026-04-08T09:35:52Z
department:
- _id: '175'
doi: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035315673.00058
editor:
- first_name: Ravinder
  full_name: Sidhu, Ravinder
  last_name: Sidhu
- first_name: Johanna
  full_name: Waters, Johanna
  last_name: Waters
- first_name: Yi'En
  full_name: Cheng, Yi'En
  last_name: Cheng
language:
- iso: eng
page: 205-208
place: Cheltenham
publication: The Elgar International Encyclopedia of Sociology of Education
publication_status: published
publisher: 'Edward Elgar Publishing '
status: public
title: The Meritocratic Ideal and its Challenges
type: encyclopedia_article
user_id: '114557'
year: '2025'
...
---
_id: '61863'
abstract:
- lang: eng
  text: 'Human life is increasingly quantified. From blood pressure to body mass index,
    from likes and retweets to performance metrics at work, from IQ results to facial
    attractiveness scores issued by smartphone apps. Many of these numbers have the
    potential to substantially shape how individuals view themselves, and yet the
    link between quantification and self-image is to date not well understood. My
    window into this phenomenon is one of the most ubiquitous and influential metrics
    worldwide: the school grade. Based on ethnographic fieldwork in a German comprehensive
    school, I explore how students’ self-images are shaped by their numbers. Comparing
    students’ official and unofficial remarks reveals a striking contrast between
    a seemingly detached stance toward marks and a powerful feeling of being defined
    by them—notably with regards to “intelligence.” Nevertheless, rather than passively
    identifying with their grades, especially low-performing students draw on a wide
    range of strategies in an effort to negotiate their self-image in light of their
    numbers. '
author:
- first_name: Noëlle
  full_name: Rohde, Noëlle
  id: '114557'
  last_name: Rohde
  orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8703-8738
citation:
  ama: Rohde N. 'It’s Understandable If It Destroys You, Right?’—Grades, Students’
    Self-Images, and Quantification. <i>Journal of Contemporary Ethnography</i>. 2023;52(5):607-632.
    doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/08912416231157369">10.1177/08912416231157369</a>
  apa: Rohde, N. (2023). 'It’s Understandable If It Destroys You, Right?’—Grades,
    Students’ Self-Images, and Quantification. <i>Journal of Contemporary Ethnography</i>,
    <i>52</i>(5), 607–632. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/08912416231157369">https://doi.org/10.1177/08912416231157369</a>
  bibtex: '@article{Rohde_2023, title={''It’s Understandable If It Destroys You, Right?’—Grades,
    Students’ Self-Images, and Quantification}, volume={52}, DOI={<a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/08912416231157369">10.1177/08912416231157369</a>},
    number={5}, journal={Journal of Contemporary Ethnography}, publisher={SAGE Publications},
    author={Rohde, Noëlle}, year={2023}, pages={607–632} }'
  chicago: 'Rohde, Noëlle. “''It’s Understandable If It Destroys You, Right?’—Grades,
    Students’ Self-Images, and Quantification.” <i>Journal of Contemporary Ethnography</i>
    52, no. 5 (2023): 607–32. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/08912416231157369">https://doi.org/10.1177/08912416231157369</a>.'
  ieee: 'N. Rohde, “''It’s Understandable If It Destroys You, Right?’—Grades, Students’
    Self-Images, and Quantification,” <i>Journal of Contemporary Ethnography</i>,
    vol. 52, no. 5, pp. 607–632, 2023, doi: <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/08912416231157369">10.1177/08912416231157369</a>.'
  mla: Rohde, Noëlle. “'It’s Understandable If It Destroys You, Right?’—Grades, Students’
    Self-Images, and Quantification.” <i>Journal of Contemporary Ethnography</i>,
    vol. 52, no. 5, SAGE Publications, 2023, pp. 607–32, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/08912416231157369">10.1177/08912416231157369</a>.
  short: N. Rohde, Journal of Contemporary Ethnography 52 (2023) 607–632.
date_created: 2025-10-16T14:08:12Z
date_updated: 2025-10-17T06:33:56Z
doi: 10.1177/08912416231157369
extern: '1'
intvolume: '        52'
issue: '5'
language:
- iso: eng
main_file_link:
- open_access: '1'
oa: '1'
page: 607-632
publication: Journal of Contemporary Ethnography
publication_identifier:
  issn:
  - 0891-2416
  - 1552-5414
publication_status: published
publisher: SAGE Publications
status: public
title: '''It’s Understandable If It Destroys You, Right?''—Grades, Students’ Self-Images,
  and Quantification'
type: journal_article
user_id: '114557'
volume: 52
year: '2023'
...
---
_id: '61861'
author:
- first_name: Noëlle
  full_name: Rohde, Noëlle
  id: '114557'
  last_name: Rohde
  orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8703-8738
citation:
  ama: 'Rohde N. ‘To assign people their place in society’: School grades and the
    quantification of merit. <i>Economy and Society</i>. 2023;52(3):506-530. doi:<a
    href="https://doi.org/10.1080/03085147.2023.2225346">10.1080/03085147.2023.2225346</a>'
  apa: 'Rohde, N. (2023). ‘To assign people their place in society’: School grades
    and the quantification of merit. <i>Economy and Society</i>, <i>52</i>(3), 506–530.
    <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/03085147.2023.2225346">https://doi.org/10.1080/03085147.2023.2225346</a>'
  bibtex: '@article{Rohde_2023, title={‘To assign people their place in society’:
    School grades and the quantification of merit}, volume={52}, DOI={<a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/03085147.2023.2225346">10.1080/03085147.2023.2225346</a>},
    number={3}, journal={Economy and Society}, publisher={Informa UK Limited}, author={Rohde,
    Noëlle}, year={2023}, pages={506–530} }'
  chicago: 'Rohde, Noëlle. “‘To Assign People Their Place in Society’: School Grades
    and the Quantification of Merit.” <i>Economy and Society</i> 52, no. 3 (2023):
    506–30. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/03085147.2023.2225346">https://doi.org/10.1080/03085147.2023.2225346</a>.'
  ieee: 'N. Rohde, “‘To assign people their place in society’: School grades and the
    quantification of merit,” <i>Economy and Society</i>, vol. 52, no. 3, pp. 506–530,
    2023, doi: <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/03085147.2023.2225346">10.1080/03085147.2023.2225346</a>.'
  mla: 'Rohde, Noëlle. “‘To Assign People Their Place in Society’: School Grades and
    the Quantification of Merit.” <i>Economy and Society</i>, vol. 52, no. 3, Informa
    UK Limited, 2023, pp. 506–30, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/03085147.2023.2225346">10.1080/03085147.2023.2225346</a>.'
  short: N. Rohde, Economy and Society 52 (2023) 506–530.
date_created: 2025-10-16T14:06:18Z
date_updated: 2025-10-17T06:34:07Z
doi: 10.1080/03085147.2023.2225346
extern: '1'
intvolume: '        52'
issue: '3'
language:
- iso: eng
main_file_link:
- open_access: '1'
oa: '1'
page: 506-530
publication: Economy and Society
publication_identifier:
  issn:
  - 0308-5147
  - 1469-5766
publication_status: published
publisher: Informa UK Limited
status: public
title: '‘To assign people their place in society’: School grades and the quantification
  of merit'
type: journal_article
user_id: '114557'
volume: 52
year: '2023'
...
---
_id: '61864'
author:
- first_name: Noëlle
  full_name: Rohde, Noëlle
  id: '114557'
  last_name: Rohde
  orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8703-8738
citation:
  ama: Rohde N. <i>Quality Criteria for Algorithmic Processes. Analyzing the Strengths
    and Weaknesses of Selected Compendia. </i>. Vol 8.; 2018. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.11586/2018027">10.11586/2018027</a>
  apa: Rohde, N. (2018). <i>Quality Criteria for Algorithmic Processes. Analyzing
    the Strengths and Weaknesses of Selected Compendia. </i> (Vol. 8). <a href="https://doi.org/10.11586/2018027">https://doi.org/10.11586/2018027</a>
  bibtex: '@book{Rohde_2018, series={Working Papers in the Ethics of Algorithms },
    title={Quality Criteria for Algorithmic Processes. Analyzing the Strengths and
    Weaknesses of Selected Compendia. }, volume={8}, DOI={<a href="https://doi.org/10.11586/2018027">10.11586/2018027</a>},
    author={Rohde, Noëlle}, year={2018}, collection={Working Papers in the Ethics
    of Algorithms } }'
  chicago: Rohde, Noëlle. <i>Quality Criteria for Algorithmic Processes. Analyzing
    the Strengths and Weaknesses of Selected Compendia. </i>. Vol. 8. Working Papers
    in the Ethics of Algorithms , 2018. <a href="https://doi.org/10.11586/2018027">https://doi.org/10.11586/2018027</a>.
  ieee: N. Rohde, <i>Quality Criteria for Algorithmic Processes. Analyzing the Strengths
    and Weaknesses of Selected Compendia. </i>, vol. 8. 2018.
  mla: Rohde, Noëlle. <i>Quality Criteria for Algorithmic Processes. Analyzing the
    Strengths and Weaknesses of Selected Compendia. </i>. 2018, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.11586/2018027">10.11586/2018027</a>.
  short: N. Rohde, Quality Criteria for Algorithmic Processes. Analyzing the Strengths
    and Weaknesses of Selected Compendia. , 2018.
date_created: 2025-10-16T14:35:35Z
date_updated: 2025-10-17T06:32:04Z
department:
- _id: '175'
doi: 10.11586/2018027
extern: '1'
intvolume: '         8'
language:
- iso: eng
main_file_link:
- open_access: '1'
oa: '1'
page: '24'
publication_status: published
series_title: 'Working Papers in the Ethics of Algorithms '
status: public
title: 'Quality Criteria for Algorithmic Processes. Analyzing the Strengths and Weaknesses
  of Selected Compendia. '
type: working_paper
user_id: '114557'
volume: 8
year: '2018'
...
---
_id: '61866'
alternative_title:
- Special Issue on ‘Anthropology Matters, Especially in Times of Crisis’
author:
- first_name: Noëlle
  full_name: Rohde, Noëlle
  id: '114557'
  last_name: Rohde
  orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8703-8738
citation:
  ama: Rohde N. What Insights About the Body can be Gained Through Anthropological
    Approaches to Pain? <i>Journal of the Anthropological Society of Oxford</i>. 2017;IX(2).
  apa: Rohde, N. (2017). What Insights About the Body can be Gained Through Anthropological
    Approaches to Pain? <i>Journal of the Anthropological Society of Oxford</i>, <i>IX</i>(2).
  bibtex: '@article{Rohde_2017, title={What Insights About the Body can be Gained
    Through Anthropological Approaches to Pain?}, volume={IX}, number={2}, journal={Journal
    of the Anthropological Society of Oxford}, author={Rohde, Noëlle}, year={2017}
    }'
  chicago: Rohde, Noëlle. “What Insights About the Body Can Be Gained Through Anthropological
    Approaches to Pain?” <i>Journal of the Anthropological Society of Oxford</i> IX,
    no. 2 (2017).
  ieee: N. Rohde, “What Insights About the Body can be Gained Through Anthropological
    Approaches to Pain?,” <i>Journal of the Anthropological Society of Oxford</i>,
    vol. IX, no. 2, 2017.
  mla: Rohde, Noëlle. “What Insights About the Body Can Be Gained Through Anthropological
    Approaches to Pain?” <i>Journal of the Anthropological Society of Oxford</i>,
    vol. IX, no. 2, 2017.
  short: N. Rohde, Journal of the Anthropological Society of Oxford IX (2017).
date_created: 2025-10-16T14:38:48Z
date_updated: 2025-10-16T14:43:56Z
department:
- _id: '175'
extern: '1'
issue: '2'
language:
- iso: eng
main_file_link:
- open_access: '1'
oa: '1'
publication: Journal of the Anthropological Society of Oxford
publication_identifier:
  issn:
  - 2040-1876
publication_status: published
status: public
title: What Insights About the Body can be Gained Through Anthropological Approaches
  to Pain?
type: journal_article
user_id: '114557'
volume: IX
year: '2017'
...