Elsevier facility to 'advance evaluation of research'

Elsevier has launched a facility aimed at 'examining and advancing the evaluation of research across all fields of knowledge production'.

The International Center for the Study of Research (ICSR) is tasked with working closely with the research community to review and develop the use of qualitative and quantitative metrics of research evaluation to create a more transparent and robust approach to research assessment.

Elsevier says the mission of the ICSR will be to 'encourage the examination of research using arrays of metrics and qualitative and quantitative methods rather than favouring one-size-fits-all approaches'.

The facility will draw on the interconnected disciplines of research evaluation, bibliometrics and scientometrics, science of science, science and technology studies, and science of team science.

'The evaluation of research has always been heavily-debated,' said Éric Archambault, newly-appointed head of the ICSR and general manager of 1science, Elsevier. 'The International Center for the Study of Research’s aim is to facilitate coherence across these discussions and provide a progressive momentum and a critical examination of evaluation approaches and metrics. The creation of the ICSR will advance the study of research information and evaluation, ensure the appropriate use of performance indicators; and promote evaluation best practices.'

The ICSR’s advisory board members are taken from all corners of the academic world and are experts in research metrics, indicators and research assessment practices.

'Elsevier is the owner of several data sources that are widely used in research assessment (for example, SciVal, Scopus and PlumX Metrics),' said Andrew Plume, chair of the ICSR Advisory Board, and senior director for research evaluation at Elsevier. 

'However, independence and neutrality are central concerns of Elsevier in the establishment of the ICSR. At any time, there will be 16 members sitting on the board, representing all continents, with no more than four Elsevier officials serving at one time. Elsevier looks forward to learning from these diverse subject experts from across the world.'