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The evaluation of research excellence and the dynamics of knowledge production in the humanities: The case of history in Spain

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  • Carolina Cañibano
  • Immaculada Vilardell
  • Carmen Corona
  • Carlos Benito-Amat

Abstract

This article addresses how the progressive development of a strong research evaluation system in Spain has affected research practices in two highly prestigious university departments in History. Our research finds that researchers perceive that evaluation mechanisms relying on bibliometric indicators pressure them to publish more and to publish in international indexed journals. Researchers feel the time available to develop their research before publishing their results has been reduced, which does not allow them to address research questions with the former rigour and to fully exploit information sources. The pressure is also perceived as an obstacle to conceiving long-term intellectual projects. The strong evaluation culture and its accompanying mechanisms are thus perceived as directly undermining the fundamental pillars on which the academic prestige of these departments was built, namely originality, scientific rigour and methodological innovations.

Suggested Citation

  • Carolina Cañibano & Immaculada Vilardell & Carmen Corona & Carlos Benito-Amat, 2018. "The evaluation of research excellence and the dynamics of knowledge production in the humanities: The case of history in Spain," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 45(6), pages 775-789.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:scippl:v:45:y:2018:i:6:p:775-789.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/scipol/scy025
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Catherine Paradeise & Jean-Claude Thoenig, 2015. "In Search of Academic Quality," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-1-137-29829-4, December.
    2. Anton J. Nederhof, 2006. "Bibliometric monitoring of research performance in the Social Sciences and the Humanities: A Review," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 66(1), pages 81-100, January.
    3. Ülle Must, 2012. "Alone or together: examples from history research," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 91(2), pages 527-537, May.
    4. Björn Hammarfelt & Sarah de Rijcke, 2015. "Accountability in context: effects of research evaluation systems on publication practices, disciplinary norms, and individual working routines in the faculty of Arts at Uppsala University," Research Evaluation, Oxford University Press, vol. 24(1), pages 63-77.
    5. Thelwall, Mike & Sud, Pardeep, 2014. "No citation advantage for monograph-based collaborations?," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 8(1), pages 276-283.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ramón A. Feenstra & Emilio Delgado López-Cózar, 2022. "Philosophers’ appraisals of bibliometric indicators and their use in evaluation: from recognition to knee-jerk rejection," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 127(4), pages 2085-2103, April.
    2. Jong, Lisette & Franssen, Thomas & Pinfield, Stephen, 2022. "Transforming excellence? From ‘matter of fact’ to ‘matter of concern’ in research funding organizations," SocArXiv nduxf_v1, Center for Open Science.

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