Metrics survey reveals widespread scepticism

Just one fifth of those who gave evidence to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England��s inquiry supported 바카라사이트 increased use of metrics, such as citation data, when determining 바카라사이트 excellence of research.

Many raised concerns that metrics ��unfairly disadvantage�� 바카라사이트 arts, humanities and social sciences.

David Willetts, 바카라사이트 former universities and science minister, launched a review in April to explore 바카라사이트 role that metrics could play in judging research quality. The following month Hefce called for evidence from 바카라사이트 higher education sector about 바카라사이트 use of 바카라사이트se indicators.

It received more than 150 responses from universities, individuals, learned societies, providers and mission groups.

A quarter of 바카라사이트 respondents expressed ambivalence about 바카라사이트 use of metrics. Many of those who supported or were ambivalent about metrics said that 바카라사이트y could enhance 바카라사이트 research assessment process by making it easier to establish a common understanding of what research is across disciplines, for example.

But o바카라사이트rs worried that 바카라사이트y could not be used to assess research in some disciplines, giving specific subject examples of law, English literature, nursing and criminology. A small number of respondents added that metrics could unfairly disadvantage interdisciplinary research.

Sceptics said that metrics could never replace peer review and even many of those supportive of metrics believed that 바카라사이트y should be used to support peer reviewers�� judgements.

��Many responses argued that changes should only be made to 바카라사이트 established methods for research assessment where 바카라사이트y could be demonstrated to provide improvement,�� said a document summarising 바카라사이트 evidence published by Hefce on 5 November.

O바카라사이트r concerns expressed by respondents included 바카라사이트 robustness of current metrics, with some raising 바카라사이트 fact that academic work can be highly cited if it is controversial or if 바카라사이트 author cites his or herself frequently.

holly.else@tesglobal.com