REF Bibliometrics Pilot
The College was one of 22 pilot institutions that took part in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) bibliometrics pilot, commencing in July 2008, which was set up to test the feasibility, methods and approaches of using citation data to assess research performance. The full list of institutions that took part in the REF bibliometrics pilot is available on the Funding Council's website.
Various information can be downloaded below.
- Information on data submitted: Staff notice on collection of data (pdf) (Strategic Planning Division, August 08)
- Information on Use of personal data for the REF Bibliometrics Pilot (pdf) (HEFCE, August 08)
- Brief introduction to the REF presentation (pdf) (Strategic Planning Division, July 08)
- Information leaflet on the REF pilot: Bibliometrics and the REF (pdf) (HEFCE, August 08)
Deadline | Activity |
---|---|
25 July 2008 | HEIs provide estimate of REF pilot feasibility to HEFCE Agree format for data submission |
August 2008 | HEIs submit initial databases: - Table 1: data on research staff - Table 2: currently available publication lists - Table 3: Links between staff and outputs (optional) |
August - October 2008 | Contractors (Evidence) identify additional outputs HEIs validate additional outputs identified by the contractors |
November 2008- March 2009 | Contractors (Evidence) carry out citation analysis using WoS HEFCE carry out citation analysis using SCOPUS |
Summer 2009 | Outcomes of the REF pilot disseminated |
Outcomes
HEFCE’s summary of the pilot stated that “bibliometrics are not sufficiently robust at this stage to be used formulaically or to replace expert review in the REF. However there is considerable scope for citation information to be used to inform expert review.”
Following the pilot HEFCE published the Outcomes of the REF Bibliometrics pilot (HEFCE, September 2009) which presents the work undertaken to develop the bibliometrics element of the Research Excellence Framework.