Research rankings: working with the least-worse

Learned scholar of ranking systems, Richard Holmes, points to a new review which finds all assessed deficient in various and serious ways. (Marlo M. VernonE. Andrew Balas and Shaher Moman, “Are university rankings useful to improve research? A systematic review,” PLOS One, March 7 @). But as rankings are a reality of research competition, they propose working with the least worse of what is there; “when used in tandem, several ranking systems may have more reasonable comprehensiveness and validity. Use of the Leiden Ranking System, the Clarivate Analytics Innovation Ranking System, and SCImago process for systematic evaluation and comparison may be a promising approach for research administrators”

That will work, at least until somebody comes up with a ranking which combines all three, which all the other raters will then explain does not work.

 


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