New ways of measuring research

From: Alma Swan <a.swan_at_TALK21.COM>
Date: Tue, 7 Oct 2008 21:06:44 +0000

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Barbara Kirsop said:
> 'This exchange of messages is damaging to the List and
> to OA itself. I would like to suggest that those unhappy
> with any aspect of its operation
> merely remove themselves from the List. This is the normal
> practice.'
>
> A 'vote' is unnecessary and totally inappropriate.

Exactly, Barabara. These attempts to undermine Stevan are entirely misplaced and exceedingly annoying. The nonsense about Stevan resigning, or changing his moderating style, should not continue any further. It's taking up bandwidth, boring everyone to blazes, and getting us precisely nowhere except generating bad blood.

Let those who don't like the way Stevan moderates this list resign as is the norm and, if they wish, start their own list where they can moderate (or not) and discuss exactly as they think fit, if they believe they can handle things better. Now that they all know who they are (and so do we), let them band together, and get on with it together.

Those who do like the way Stevan moderates this list (his list), can stay and continue discussing the things we, and he, think are important in the way the list has always been handled. Goodbye, all those who wish things differently. It's a shame that you're going but we wish you well and we will be relieved when you cease despoiling this list with your carping.

Can I now appeal to those who opt to stay to start a new thread on something important - and I suggest that the issue of research metrics is a prime candidate. I particularly don't want to be too precise about that term 'metrics'. Arun (Subbiah Arunachalam) has just sent out to various people the summary that the Washington Research Evaluation Network has published about - er - research evaluation. One of the conclusions is that bibliometrics are 'flawed'. Many people would agree with that, but with conditions.

It is important to me in the context of a current project I am doing that I understand what possibilities there are for measuring (not assessing or evaluating, necessarily, but measuring) THINGS related to research. Measurements may be such a thing as immediate impact, perhaps measured as usual by citations, but I am also interested in other approaches, including long-term ones, for measuring research activities and outcomes. We need not think only in terms of impact but also in terms of outputs, effects, benefits, costs, payoffs, ROI. I would like to hear about things that could be considered as measures of research activity in one form or another. They may be quite 'wacky', and they may be things that are currently not open to empirical analysis yet would seem to be the basis of sensible measures of research outcomes. Any ideas you have, bring 'em on. Then the challenge is whether, in an OA world, people will be able to develop the tools to make the
 measures measurable. That's the next conversation.

Stevan, your incisive input is very welcome as always. And you may quote/comment as much as you want. That is the unique value that you bring to this list and why the vast majority of us are still here, right behind you.

Alma Swan
Key Perspectives Ltd
Truro, UK
Received on Tue Oct 07 2008 - 23:18:07 BST