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Research Impact

Responsible use of metrics

Examples of principles usually followed at Universities in terms of the responsible use of metrics:

 

  • Quantitative evaluation should support qualitative, expert assessment.
  • Measure performance against the research missions of the institution, group or researcher.
  • Keep data collection and analytical processes open, transparent and simple.
  • Allow those evaluated to verify data and analysis.
  • Account for variation by field in research practices.
  • Base assessment of individual researchers on a qualitative judgement of their portfolio.
  • Use multiple indicators to provide a more robust and wide-ranging picture of the research activities.
  • Scrutinize indicators regularly and update them. 

Resources:

https://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/support/publishing/responsible-use-of-metrics/
https://uct.ac.za/research-support-hub/outputs/research-assessment
https://library.leeds.ac.uk/info/1406/researcher_support/17/research_metrics/5

Other useful information on the topic:

Doing metrics responsibly (Elsevier presentation)
Research evaluation needs to change with the times (2022 article, Nature)
Human Metrics Initiative