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Bibliometric analysis of interdisciplinary research

Summary

This research considered the implications for interdisciplinary research of using bibliometric analysis - that is, how frequently research is cited by other researchers - in research assessment in the context of HEFCE's current work to develop a new research assessment and funding framework to replace the Research Assessment Exercise after 2008.

This report is a background document to HEFCE's consultation on proposals for the Research Excellence Framework ('Research Excellence Framework: consultation on the assessment and funding of higher education research post-2008', HEFCE 2007/34).

The report considers how interdisciplinary research could be defined for the purposes of bibliometric analysis, and whether such research is systematically cited in journals less often and could potentially be disadvantaged in a bibliometrics-based system of research assessment.

The study found that there is no strong case for research outputs to be treated differently for the purposes of research assessment on the grounds of interdisciplinarity, but advises that bibliometric analysis of such outputs should be carried out carefully to ensure they are treated appropriately.

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