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The heterogeneous landscape of bibliometric indicators: Evaluating models for allocating resources at Swedish universities

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  • Björn Hammarfelt
  • Gustaf Nelhans
  • Pieta Eklund
  • Fredrik Åström

Abstract

The use of bibliometric indicators on individual and national levels has gathered considerable interest in recent years, but the application of bibliometric models for allocating resources at the institutional level has so far gathered less attention. This article studies the implementation of bibliometric measures for allocating resources at Swedish universities. Several models and indicators based on publications, citations, and research grants are identified. The design of performance-based resource allocation across major universities is then analysed using a framework from the field of evaluation studies. The practical implementation, the incentives as well as the ‘ethics’ of models and indicators, are scrutinized in order to provide a theoretically informed assessment of evaluation systems. It is evident that the requirements, goals, possible consequences, and the costs of evaluation are scarcely discussed before these systems are implemented. We find that allocation models are implemented in response to a general trend of assessment across all types of activities and organizations, but the actual design of evaluation systems is dependent on size, orientation, and the overall organization of the institution in question.

Suggested Citation

  • Björn Hammarfelt & Gustaf Nelhans & Pieta Eklund & Fredrik Åström, 2016. "The heterogeneous landscape of bibliometric indicators: Evaluating models for allocating resources at Swedish universities," Research Evaluation, Oxford University Press, vol. 25(3), pages 292-305.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:rseval:v:25:y:2016:i:3:p:292-305.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/reseval/rvv040
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kaare Aagaard, 2015. "How incentives trickle down: Local use of a national bibliometric indicator system," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 42(5), pages 725-737.
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    Cited by:

    1. Migheli, Matteo & Zotti, Roberto, 2020. "The strange case of the Matthew effect and beauty contests: Research evaluation and specialisation in Italian universities," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    2. Renata Kudaibergenova & Sandugash Uzakbay & Asselya Makanova & Kymbat Ramadinkyzy & Erlan Kistaubayev & Ruslan Dussekeev & Kadyrzhan Smagulov, 2022. "Managing publication change at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University: a case study," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 127(1), pages 453-479, January.
    3. Engzell, Jeanette & Karabag, Solmaz Filiz & Yström, Anna, 2024. "Academic intrapreneurs navigating multiple institutional logics: An integrative framework for understanding and supporting intrapreneurship in universities," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).

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