DORA at the University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen became a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) in July 2020. This reflects the University’s commitment to responsible research assessment and to recognising the full range of contributions made by researchers.
What is DORA?
DORA is an international initiative that promotes improved and more responsible approaches to evaluating research. It encourages institutions, funders, publishers, and researchers to move beyond narrow reliance on journal-based metrics and to assess research based on its quality, relevance, and broader contributions.
- Key principles
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DORA advocates for research assessment practices that:
- Avoid the use of journal-based metrics, such as Journal Impact Factor (JIF), in decisions relating to funding, recruitment, and promotion.
- Evaluate research outputs on their intrinsic quality and contribution to knowledge rather than the venue of publication.
- Recognise a wide range of research outputs and impacts, supported by the opportunities provided by digital and open research practices.
- Our commitment
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As a DORA signatory, the University of Aberdeen is committed to:
- Clearly communicating the criteria used in research assessment processes.
- Prioritising the quality, originality, and contribution of research outputs rather than publication metrics.
- Recognising a diverse range of scholarly outputs and contributions beyond traditional journal publications.
- Considering qualitative and quantitative evidence of research impact, including contributions to policy, professional practice, and society.
- Expectations for researchers
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Researchers are encouraged to support responsible research assessment by:
- Evaluating research on its content and contribution when participating in funding, recruitment, or promotion processes.
- Citing original research outputs to ensure appropriate recognition of contributions.
- Using a range of appropriate indicators and evidence to demonstrate the impact and influence of their work.
- Promoting responsible metrics and challenging inappropriate uses of journal-level indicators.