San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA)

LSTM is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which recognises the need to improve how academic research outputs are evaluated. We are committed to implementing the DORA principles as part of a fair and responsible approach to research assessment.

LSTM’s key practices on fair research assessment:

• We refrain from using journal-based metrics, such as Journal Impact Factors, as a surrogate measure of the quality of research articles, of an individual researcher’s contributions, or in hiring, promotion, or funding decisions. Instead, we use internal reading panels to assess the significance, reach and rigor of publications.
• We are transparent about the criteria used to reach hiring, tenure, and promotion decisions. We highlight that the scientific content of a research paper is more important than publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which it was published.
• Our academic promotion criteria require evidence of how staff have created a positive research culture in their teams and embed LSTM’s values in their work.
• We consider the value and impact of all research outputs (including datasets and software, contributions to policy documents) in addition to research publications. We consider a broad range of impact measures, including qualitative indicators of research impact, such as influence on policy and practice.