ICSR Perspectives
ICSR Perspectives is a series of short reports from the ICSR which aims to further the conversation, offer new perspectives and inform the research community on topics relating to research evaluation.
In line with the remit of the ICSR, the scope of the series is broad, including topics such as research metrics and indicators, the varied types of research impact, trends in scholarly publishing and more.
Tales of the unexpected: Designing for serendipity in research
From Newton’s apple to Fleming’s petri dish, the value of serendipitous research discoveries is well recognized. In this report, we capture initiatives and efforts to understand, measure and ultimately how research leaders can design for serendipity. Included within the Perspective is a quick reference guide, exploring eight steps that research institutions can take with this goal in mind.
Authors: Linda Willems, Elly Wade, Rachel Herbert, Andrew Plume Categories: Research practices, research careers
What is the meaning of ‘Corresponding Authorship’ and how is it changing?
Through interviews and data analysis, these two reports explore the ways in which the concept of ‘corresponding authorship’ of publications has changed in recent years, from a set of discrete responsibilities in the peer review process to a position of perceived leadership amongst co-authors.
Author: Linda Willems, Andrew Plume, Alvin Ding, Rachel Herbert Categories: Inclusivity; Research careers
Build it and they will come: The convening power of the SOLEIL Synchrotron facility
This case study casts a novel perspective on research evaluation by focusing on the role of a large research infrastructure — the SOLEIL Synchrotron — in the advancement of science. An approach is established for identifying relevant publications, which are then analyzed and visualized using sophisticated but accessible software tools to generate insights.
Author: Andrew Plume Categories: Impact of research; Research practices
Is cross-disciplinary research linked to policy relevance?
In a context where an increasing number of funding programmes promote cross-disciplinary research to fuel socially relevant research outcomes, this video summarizes a study testing if this mode of research is positively associated with citations in policy relevant documents.
Authors: Beverley Mitchell, Henrique Pinheiro, Etienne Vignola-Gagné and David Campbell Categories: Impact of research; Research practices
Achieving an equitable transition to open access for researchers in lower and middle-income countries
This White Paper — produced in collaboration with the STM Association — provides an evidence base supporting practical recommendations towards the equitable and inclusive shift towards open access publishing in countries eligible for Research4Life participation.
Authors: Andrea Powell, Rob Johnson, Rachel Herbert Categories: Open Science; Research globalization
Accept me, accept me not: What do journal acceptance rates really mean?
This study considers what journal acceptance rates can tell a submitting author about a journal and whether the rate is a signal of other journal attributes — impact or quality, for example.
Author: Rachel Herbert Category: Research Practices
Evaluating research in the 21st Century: Mapping the topical evolution of research evaluation
In this video, we look at how the field of research evaluation can be defined and how it has evolved over a 20-year period. Using Scopus and VOSviewer, we present a topical evolution of a field, as defined by the published literature.
Author: Rachel Herbert Category: Research Practices
The need for speed: How quickly do preprints become published articles?
In our latest Perspectives paper, The need for speed: How quickly do preprints become published articles?, we identify benefits for authors posting biology preprints and investigate how quickly preprints become published articles.
Authors: Rachel Herbert, Dr. Kate Gasson, Alex Ponsford Categories: Open Science; Research careers
Fractional Authorship & Publication Productivity
In this first Perspectives paper, Fractional Authorship & Publication Productivity, we look at how patterns of authorship are evolving. With the growth in publications and the length of author lists, we examine what that means for authors — are they writing more each year, or just writing more collaboratively?
Authors: Dr. Kate Gasson, Rachel Herbert, Alex Ponsford Category: Research careers
