The team at the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment, also known as DORA, is celebrating a major milestone – their 12th birthday! And what better way to mark this occasion than by launching a practical guide that promotes responsible research assessment.
For those who may not be familiar with DORA, it is a global initiative that strives to improve the ways in which the quality of research is evaluated. It was founded in 2012 by a group of scientists and journal editors who were concerned about the negative impact of over-emphasizing the importance of journal impact factors in evaluating research.
Since then, DORA has gained significant traction and support from the academic and scientific community. Over 20,000 individuals and organizations, including universities, funding agencies and publishers, have signed the declaration in support of its mission. This overwhelming response demonstrates the need for a change in the current research assessment practices.
Now, with the launch of their practical guide, DORA takes a step further towards their goal of responsible research assessment. The guide provides a set of recommendations for individuals and organizations to promote fair and constructive research evaluation. It aims to bridge the gap between the scientific community and evaluation practices, and promote a more holistic and inclusive approach to research assessment.
One of the key recommendations in the guide is to move away from the traditional reliance on journal impact factors as a measure of research quality. This is a crucial step towards dismantling the culture of “publish or perish” which has been a major concern for researchers. Instead, DORA encourages the use of multiple indicators of research impact that take into account the diversity of research outputs and their societal impact.
Another important element of responsible research assessment highlighted in the guide is the need for transparency and fairness in the evaluation process. This includes providing clear criteria for evaluation, ensuring diverse representation in evaluation committees, and giving due credit to all contributors in a research project – not just the first or corresponding author.
The guide also addresses the issue of the pressure to publish in high-impact journals, which can often lead to unethical practices such as plagiarism and data manipulation. DORA advocates for a shift towards valuing the quality and rigor of research over the prestige of the journal in which it is published.
Additionally, the guide highlights the importance of recognizing and valuing all types of research outputs, including data, software, and preprints. This is especially important in disciplines such as social sciences, where traditional academic publications may not fully capture the impact of research.
As we celebrate DORA’s 12th birthday and the launch of their practical guide, we must also acknowledge the progress that has been made in promoting responsible research assessment. There is now a growing awareness and understanding that our current evaluation practices have limitations and can be harmful to the research community.
However, there is still a long way to go. We need the collective efforts of researchers, institutions, funders, and publishers to bring about a meaningful change in research assessment. And DORA’s practical guide provides a roadmap for that change to happen.
In the words of DORA’s co-founder, Heather Joseph, “The responsible evaluation of research is a community-wide endeavor, requiring collaboration and coordination among all stakeholders. We hope that this guide will serve as a valuable resource for those working to improve research assessment practices.”
So let’s join hands with DORA and take a step towards responsible research assessment. Let’s create an environment where all forms of research are valued and recognized, and researchers are not under immense pressure to conform to traditional measures of success. Let’s make research assessment a fair and inclusive process that supports and promotes the advancement of knowledge for the betterment of society.
Happy 12th birthday, DORA! Thank you for championing responsible research assessment and paving the way for a more equitable and sustainable research landscape. Here’s to many more years of progress and positive impact.
