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Research Impact: Responsible Metrics

Provides an overview of the Responsible Metrics movement and resources to support the responsible and equitable evaluation of scholarly work, particularly in the wake of unpredictable challenges.

Overview

Bibliographic research metrics, quantitative metrics rooted in publication counts, have increasingly been used and sometimes misused to make claims about the impact, quality, and prestige of research, publications, journals, and researchers’ work. Many quantitative  research impact indicators are available, but there can be mismatch between what is meant to be assessed—and the indicator used for assessment. This guide is intended to steer you to resources available for equitable evaluation of scholarly work, particularly in the wake of unpredictable challenges.

Statements on Responsible Metrics

The following resources describe how and why researchers and evaluators should take responsible metrics into account when assessing the impact of research: 

Frameworks for Responsible Evaluation of Research

The following resources outline specific approaches that one might take to responsibly evaluate research or a researcher. Most of these approaches are specific to a particular purpose or discipline. Not every resource will be appropriate in every case. These are examples of ways in which responsible research impact assessment might be put into practice in various contexts.