Evaluation of Publication and Research

— How Do We Evaluate Careers in Science? —

Abstract

Commercial publishers expanded into the academic market only after the 1960s. The competition based on the journal impact factor (IF) became overheated only after 2000. Originally, academic journals held their own publication purposes and editorial policies to keep the activity-record of academic organizations and academies. Without understanding this background, submission of research works, especially based on a short-sighted calculation of profit and loss, may lead to negative consequences in future cost and science policy. Numerical indices do not reflect the quality of research. It is important to seek different evaluation measures from various perspectives.