[Whitepaper] The state of research assessment: Researcher perspectives on evaluation practices 

Researchers value assessment, but there is a clear vision for change.

The landscape of research assessment is changing rapidly – initiatives for research assessment reform have challenged the overreliance on publication metrics, and advocated for more holistic approaches that are more representative of the contributions that researchers make to the wider community. 

But how do researchers experience assessment in practice, and how do they feel about the ways they are evaluated? 

Springer Nature has conducted a comprehensive survey of over 6,600 researchers – one of the largest studies of its kind – which aims to provide an understanding of how researchers experience evaluation, and inform ongoing discussions on research assessment reform. 

Key findings from the white paper include:

• Publication metrics continue to dominate assessment processes.
• Researchers are mostly positive about their experiences of evaluation, but with some notable concerns.
• Researchers consistently envision a more balanced future, with wider recognition of their contributions beyond research outputs.
• There is a clear tension between the use of qualitative and quantitative evaluation indicators. 

For more information and detailed statistics, read the full white paper, The state of research assessment: Researcher perspectives on evaluation practices.