UofG Commitment to Responsible Research Assessment
Responsible Research Assessment
The University of Glasgow is committed to responsible research assessment. Research assessment is how we evaluate the quality, value, and impact of academic work. It has an impact on how we select projects and researchers for funding, on determining career progression, and on the assessment of the performance of research units and institutes. Responsible research assessment matters because it ensures fairness, transparency and inclusivity in our daily decisions about recruitment, promotion, reward, funding and recognition. Doing research assessment responsibly means assessing research based on its quality, rigor and contribution, rather than relying solely on quantitative metrics.
This commitment is embedded within the University of Glasgow’s Research Strategy 2036, stating that we value research quality over quantity. Glasgow’s guiding principles set expectations for research quality, how we work and how we enable our people and teams to succeed.
How we plan to activate our commitment to advancing responsible recognition and assessment outlined in our Research Culture Action Plan 2026-2029, anchored by our five research culture priorities. Our Research Recognition culture priority outlines our ambitions that all colleagues are valued for their varied contributions to a diverse range of research activities and outputs.
To support this commitment, the University of Glasgow has been a signatory of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) since 2020.
DORA provides a set of recommendations designed to ensure that research quality is assessed accurately, fairly and responsibly.
By endorsing DORA, the University affirms its commitment to:
- Reducing the inappropriate use of quantitative metrics as proxy indicators for research quality
- Recognising the full breadth of research contributions made by our community
This commitment reflects the University’s broader ambition to foster a positive research culture grounded in fairness, transparency and best practice.
This page outlines the University of Glasgow’s approach to responsible research assessment and provides key policies and practical guidance for staff and students.
The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA)
The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA)
The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) is a global initiative that seeks to improve how researchers and research quality are evaluated. It challenges the over-reliance on narrow metrics and institutional prestige. It promotes fairness and transparency in research assessment across institutional polices.
DORA emphasises that:
- Institutions should value a broad range of outputs, practices and impacts.
- Research assessment should focus on the content, contribution and rigor of research – not the prestige of the publication venue.
- Single and uncontextualised metrics cannot adequately capture research quality.
- The Journal Impact Factor should NOT be used as a proxy for the quality of research outputs.
DORA Dos and Don’ts:
Do
- Value a full range of research contributions (e.g. peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, monographs, dictionaries, software, datasets, coding, creative outputs, public engagement, policy influence etc.).
- Assess research on its intrinsic merit by focusing on originality, rigor, content, significant and contribution of the work itself, rather than relying solely on metric indicators. See Statement on the Use of Quantitative Indicators in the Assessment of Research Quality.
- Recognise diverse career paths and circumstances by taking into account factors such as career stage, part-time working, career breaks, periods of illness, caring responsibilities and non-linear career trajectories.
- Ensure transparency in decision-making by clearly communicating the criteria, expectations and processes used by panels and committees.
Don’t
- Use the journal impact factor or other uncontextualized metrics as a proxy for the quality of individual research outputs.
- Equate institutional prestige with research excellence - avoid assumptions based on where research was conducted, published or funded.
- Overlook structural and implicit bias – ensure committees are diverse, trained and aware of how bias can influence research assessment, including biases related to gender, race, discipline, methodology and career stage.
UofG actions as a signatory of DORA:
Since committing to the principles of DORA, the University of Glasgow has taken coordinated steps to embed responsible research assessment across institutional processes. This work focuses on ensuring that assessment practices are fair, transparent and aligned with international best practice.
- Establishing a short-term DORA Working Group, chaired by Professor Lisa DeBruine, Academic Lead for Good Research Practice. The working group assessed current practices and identified areas for improvement.
- Develop a UofG DORA Action Plan 2026-2029 to guide the integration of responsible research assessment principles into institutional policies and procedures.
- Appointing a Good Research Practice Intern to support delivery of the DORA Action Plan.
- Creating dedicated resources offering essential information and practical guidance to staff and students.
- Developing communications on DORA and responsible research assessment to raise awareness, drive cultural change and support good practice.
- Engagement with the Good Research Practice Network to gather feedback, share experiences and strengthen community approaches to responsible assessment.
The Good Research Practice Network
The Good Research Practice Network
The Good Research Practice Network (GRPN) brings together Good Research Practice Champions and Advisers from Schools and Colleges across the University. These colleagues play a role in supporting responsible research practices, strengthening research culture and helping to embed the principles of DORA.
The GRPN includes colleagues from a wide range of disciplines, ensuring that good practice is informed by diverse perspectives and tailored to fit different disciplines.
To learn more about who they are and they do, visit the directory: https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/ris/researchintegrity/advisers/collegeschoolchampsandadvisors/#
How the GRPN supports DORA
Colleagues in the GRPN have actively engaged with the University’s commitment to DORA by contributing insight, feedback and examples of good practice from their Schools and Colleges.
Contributions are coming soon.
Responsible Research Assessment Resources
University of Glasgow Resources
A wide range of resources are available to support responsible research assessment at UofG. These materials provide guidance on good practice, responsible metrics, narrative CVs and the principles of DORA.
- UofG DORA Action Plan 2026-2029 – outlines the University’s priorities and actions for embedding responsible research assessment across policies and processes.
- UofG DORA Case Study – published by DORA, showcasing our approach to implementing responsible research assessment.
- Statement on the Use of Quantitative Indicators in the Assessment of Research Quality – guidance on the appropriate and contextualised use of metric in research assessment.
- Code of Good Practice in Research – sets out our institutional standards and expectations for conducting responsible research.
- Pathfinder and Narrative CV Resources – designed to support PGRs and research staff with career awareness, planning and narrative CV preparation that highlights a broad range of contributions beyond traditional metrics.
- DORA-related blog posts – reflections from colleagues on implementing DORA and navigating responsible research assessment:
External Resources
A number of high‑quality external resources are available to support responsible research assessment. These materials provide international perspectives, practical tools and detailed guidance aligned with DORA principles.
- DORA Introductory Course – a free online course introducing the principles and practice of responsible research assessment.
- DORA Guidance on Quantitative Indicators – detailed recommendations on the responsible use of metrics in research evaluation.
- DORA Resource Library – a curated collection of tools, case studies and guidance on responsible research assessment.
- Research Metrics Self-Study Module – University of Southampton’s open module on responsible metrics and good practice.
- Metric Guide – University of Southampton’s overview of common indicators and their appropriate use.