Twenty-third Thing: Using Publishing Metrics Ethically

Not all metrics are equal, and numbers don’t always reflect the true impact of research. Thing 23, written by Kristijan Causovski, outlines the frameworks that underpin the ethical use of research metrics and why it’s so important to take an ethical approach.

What are publishing metrics?

Researchers across all disciplines produce a wide variety of research outputs. These include:

• Traditional Research Outputs e.g., journal articles, conference publications, books and book chapters.
• Non-Traditional Research Outputs (NTROs) e.g., original creative works, live performance of creative works, recorded/rendered creative works, curated or produced substantial public exhibitions and events, research reports for an external body, and portfolios.