Universitetsrankning och bibliometriska mätningar : Konsekvenser för forskning och kunskapsutveckling

Rankings and bibliometric measurements are proliferating. Appraisals of this kind also frequently provide the basis for initiating academic partnerships, promotion and hiring decisions as well as the allocation of resources. This report summarizes discussions and presentations held in May 2010 on this development. The discussion especially highlighted the limitations in measuring research quality in the humanities and social sciences. At the same time it is pointed out that measurement problems are in no way confined to the humanities. Quantification of research in medicine, the natural sciences and technology has also been shown to give misleading results. Creativity -innovative research-does not normally rate highly. An equally important theme concerns the impact that widespread ranking and bibliometrics can be expected to have on the conditions for researchers and their research - and, in extension, for the quality of research and the formation of knowledge as a whole.