Why is researcher assessment being developed?
Assessment practices have a bearing on what is considered valuable in research and what kind of merits and competences researchers are encouraged to accumulate. This is why it is important that assessment is fair, transparent and comprehensive and that it recognises the different forms, merits and impacts of research work.
Researcher assessment is changing
In recent years, researcher assessment has been reformed both in Finland and internationally. The aim is to promote assessment based on a comprehensive examination of research and the researcher’s work rather than just quantitative indicators, while aiming to improve the quality, responsibility, openness and societal impact of research.
Read more about good practices of researcher assessment
What does responsible researcher assessment mean?
Responsible researcher assessment refers to assessment that is transparent and fair and takes into consideration multiple aspects of the work carried out by a researcher. The assessment takes into account the content, significance and impact of research as well as the researcher’s contributions to research and development, teaching, societal interaction and the research community.
The basic premises of responsible assessment include:
- recognising the diversity of research work
- clear and transparent assessment criteria
- qualitative assessment of research and responsible use of quantitative indicators
- accounting for openness, ethics and cooperation in science
- accounting for the specific characteristics of research fields
- promoting equality and non-discrimination in the assessment
The realisation of these principles is supported by national recommendations and international cooperation networks that promote research and researcher assessment.
How does TSV promote the development of researcher assessment?
The Federation of Finnish Learned Societies (TSV) brings together research organisations, research funders and other actors in the research community to develop researcher assessment in Finland. The aim of the joint development work is to promote assessment practices that support the quality, responsibility and diversity of research.
Among other things, TSV promotes the development of assessment by:
- coordinating the activities of the Finnish National Chapter of CoARA (Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment) and national cooperation in researcher assessment
- supporting the development of assessment practices in research organisations
- participating in international networks, initiatives and projects aiming to develop assessment
- developing and maintaining the Finnish Career Assessment Matrix (FIN-CAM) tool devised to support researcher assessment
- organising events, training and discussion sessions on the development of assessment
International cooperation
TSV also participates actively in international cooperation on developing the assessment of research and researchers. Researcher assessment is currently being reformed around the world with the aim of identifying the diverse forms of research work and careers, strengthening qualitative assessment of research, and reducing the emphasis on individual indicators.
Key international networks include:
- CoARA, a global coalition aiming to reform research and researcher assessment practices, and
- San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which contains recommendations on research and researcher assessment
CoARA and DORA bring together research organisations, funders and other actors to develop more holistic assessment.