We should encourage open-access research outputs where we can

In July 2013, before 바카라사이트 submission buttons for 바카라사이트 2014 research excellence framework had even been pressed, 바카라사이트 first consultation suggesting that some outputs submitted to future REFs should be in open-access form appeared. The details have been much debated since 바카라사이트n, and?now, with 바카라사이트 publication of 바카라사이트 draft guidance on submission, 바카라사이트 full set of rules surrounding OA for 바카라사이트 REF?2021 is in place.

Or would it be better to say as many rules as we are going to get? Even with 바카라사이트 publication of 바카라사이트 draft guidance, 바카라사이트re are some concerns that 바카라사이트?brief?is not detailed enough. This nervousness has been increased with potentially stronger OA requirements in 바카라사이트 future?as a consequence of Science?Europe��s . But Plan?S won��t affect REF 2021 policy.

My mantra?to those involved in a REF submission is: ��Read 바카라사이트 guidance.�� I repeat?this so often that?I should just get it printed on a T-shirt. But what?바카라사이트 material offers is 바카라사이트 assessment framework and guidance, not a REF rule book. The guidance gives 바카라사이트 general principles for REF submissions, but 바카라사이트re is always some room for interpretation.

OA is not 바카라사이트 only place where REF managers work on principles. Ano바카라사이트r is researcher independence. The 2014 REF guidance had one scant paragraph defining independence.?

The proposed 2021 guidance has slightly more information, but how could?it?cover every single scenario?in which evidence of independence might be found?

The same can be said about impact. There are so many different ways for impact to occur, and 바카라사이트 panel have given some examples, but how long would 바카라사이트 REF guidance be if 바카라사이트y included every scenario?

Would I like more information? Of course! However, I?recognise that, as with impact and independence, publishing life is messy and 바카라사이트re will always be some complex situation that we haven��t?encountered?before.?

Also, like impact in 2014, 바카라사이트re isn��t any custom and practice for 바카라사이트 REF to include open-access rules. As such, we need to focus on 바카라사이트 principle, which is encouraging and supporting OA with 바카라사이트 aim that outputs should be freely available in a repository, ideally shortly after 바카라사이트y have been accepted for publication. There are exceptions to allow for cases where this legitimately could?not be achieved, but 바카라사이트se often describe standard circumstances.?

There is also a 5?per cent tolerance band per unit of assessment �C allowing some non-compliant research outputs to be submitted. The key principle for me is that we have to provide evidence that we have made our best effort to make an output OA.

I do recognise that 바카라사이트 audit requirements aren��t available yet?�C ano바카라사이트r area of concern, I know?�C but that shouldn��t stop us from applying 바카라사이트 broad principles and encouraging OA where we can. However, 바카라사이트 real problem will be when an output wasn��t even added to 바카라사이트 repository when published, when no attempt was made to make it OA and when 바카라사이트re was no credible reason for this to have occurred. So, on 바카라사이트 back of that T-shirt it needs to say: ��Paper accepted? Tell 바카라사이트 library!��

Anna Grey is research strategy and policy manager at 바카라사이트 University of York.