From bibliometric indicators to qualitative analysis: the valorisation of peer-review in the evaluation of scientific research

Abstract

The use of bibliometric indicators, and in particular of the Impact Factor of journals in evaluating the scientific production of researchers, has recently been subjected to international review, highlighting the need to reconsider the peer-review activity as a procedure that allows to recognize the different activities connected to the research of scholars. The article discusses some reports published internationally – DORA, The Leiden Manifesto, Report of the European Commission of 2021 – and highlights the significant connection between good evaluation practices and the Hong Kong Manifesto, dedicated to research integrity and the ethics of research evaluation.

Keywords

• research evaluation
• bibliometric indicators
• impact factor
• peer-review
• research
• ethics