Tag: quality assessment
Assess the quality of a scholarly journal
Researchers can choose from tens of thousands of scholarly journals to disseminate their research results. It's not always easy to find out which ones are reliable.
General guidelines- Think. Check. Submit is a checklist to help you identify trustworthy journals and publishers.
- Have (many of) your trusted peers published in …
Clinical trial: how do I evaluate the quality?
There are various free, internationally accredited and used tools (i.e. scales and checklists) for evaluating the quality of clinical studies. More information is available on the webpages of the Knowledge Centre for Health Ghent (Question: How do I evaluate the quality of a clinical study?).
Read moreCritical reading: the CRAAP test
You want to base your academic, scientific research on scientifically sound sources. Often, the publisher already gives you an insight into how reliable the source is; publishers of A1-journals, for instance, already peer-review their articles. Academic libraries collect scientific literature, etc.
However, you can also find many interesting sources on …
Evidence-based guideline: how can I evaluate the quality?
The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation Instrument (AGREE II) is a general tool for authors and users of guidelines to evaluate the methodological quality of clinical guidelines. The AGREE II tool is available in different languages, including Dutch and English.
Read moreGenAI: responsible use in research
What is it?
Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is a subfield of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that focuses on creating content (e.g. text, images, sounds, 3D models, code, …).
It also makes a wide range of (other) applications available, many of which impact scientific research. Among other applications, it can help …
Read moreJournal: what does "peer-reviewed" mean?
It is essential to researchers to publish in peer-reviewed journals. A peer review means that the quality of the research will be assessed by colleagues (usually before publication). Some monograph publishers also work with peer review, which means that the quality of the books they publish has been assessed by …
Read morePeer review: what is it?
Peer review (sometimes also called ‘expert review’ or ‘merit review) implies that colleagues (‘peers’) assess the research of other scholars, groups of scholars or entire institutions. Peer review is considered an effective way of safeguarding the quality of research. All researchers are involved in peer review: as the person to …
Read morePublish: how to submit an article in a scholarly journal?
How do you get your article published in a journal? How do you choose the right journal?
The Knowledge Center for Health Ghent (KCGG) lists several tips on getting published for the medical sciences. Here's a selection of generally applicable tips.
How do you select a journal? Criterion Tools Content Read moreResearch assessment: altmetrics and using Altmetric
What are altmetrics?
Altmetrics are measures that capture the attention a resource generates on the social web or other sources. They can be applied to journal articles, books/book chapters, software, datasets, websites, videos, etc.
Altmetrics attempt to show influence and engagement of work through blogs, reference management systems, scholarly social …
Read moreResearch assessment: guideline for responsible evaluation
Each research evaluation at Ghent University adheres to eight principles, which together ensure that research can be evaluated in a responsible and high-quality manner.
More on Responsible research assessment
1. The evaluation is necessaryV It is necessary, useful and meaningful for Ghent University to organize this evaluation at this …
Read moreResearch assessment: guidelines when using quantitative indicators (for evaluation organisers)
In general
There are many quantitative indicators, and new ones are still being developed. Examples of quantitative indicators include: the number of (scholarly) publications, number of citations, citation impact (normalized), number of downloaded (open access) papers, number of users of deposited datasets, number of mentions of a study/publication on social …
Read moreResearch assessment: tips for researchers who want to use quantitative indicators in their CV, project application, etc.
There are many quantitative indicators, and new ones are still being developed. Examples of quantitative indicators include: the number of (scholarly) publications, number of citations, citation impact (normalized), number of downloaded (open access) papers, number of users of deposited datasets, number of mentions of a study/publication on social media and/or …
Read moreResearch assessment: what are ARRA and CoARA?
The Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) brings together research institutions, research funders, national accreditation agencies, scientific academies and their umbrella organizations, all aiming for a global reform of how research and researchers are evaluated. All CoARA members have signed the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment (ARRA). Central to …
Read moreResearch assessment: what is DORA?
The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) is a global initiative intended to guide the way in which research is assessed at the point of recruitment and promotion, and in the awarding of project funding. Since 2012, all actors involved in the evaluation of research – research performing and …
Read moreResearch integrity training: 7 knowledge clips
The knowledge clips on training research integrity: a series of 7 clips
In total there are 7 knowledge clips available on training research integrity. They are all in English.
Knowledge clip 1 - presentation: the basics
Knowledge clip 2 - presentation: the trainer's perspective
Knowledge clip 3 - exercise: the …
Read moreResearch integrity training: knowledge clip 1: the basics
Knowledge clip 1: the basics
Knowledge clip 1 is a general and rather theoretical introduction about what research integrity is, and why it is important, incl. all the technical jargon. Using the ALLEA code, it is explained how researchers can behave in an integer way and what kind of behaviour …
Read moreResearch integrity training: knowledge clip 2: the trainer perspective
Knowledge clip 2: the trainer perspective
In order to make a successful training module, stand-alone or as part of another course, there are some terms and conditions you as a teacher/trainer need to consider, in terms of the design, the content of the training and the characteristics of the trainer. This …
Read moreResearch integrity training: knowledge clip 3: the good researcher
Knowledge clip 3: the good researcher
In the exercise ‘the good researcher’ the trainees identify the characteristics of a good researcher. They are stimulated to explore the different meanings of ‘goodness’, and to reflect on similarities and differences between researchers and research disciplines. As a trainer, you can link the …
Read moreResearch integrity training: knowledge clip 4: the lab
Knowledge clip 4: the lab
This clip contains the exercise “The lab – who and what“. The movie and roleplay “The lab” was produced by the American Office of Research Integrity, ORI.
In the exercise ‘the lab’ the trainees identify what is at stake (or at risk) in the event …
Read moreResearch integrity training: knowledge clip 5: the dilemma game
Knowledge clip 5: the dilemma game
The Dilemma Game has been developed by Erasmus University Rotterdam to stimulate awareness of research integrity.
The game wants to make trainees reflect on a particular case, a so-called dilemma. They should consider how to act in an integer way whenever they are confronted …
Read moreResearch integrity training: knowledge clip 6: the middle position
Knowledge clip 6: the middle position
One of the most interesting and meaningful things to do in a research integrity training is to analyse a real-life case. That is: the description of a situation in which researchers are being challenged to act according to the values and norms of research …
Read moreResearch integrity training: knowledge clip 7: closure
Knowledge clip 7: closure
This clip gives some inspiration on how to close or wrap up a workshop or class on research integrity.
It is advisable to watch clip 1 (basics) and clip 2 (trainer perspective) first.
This clip dates from February 2022 - last check February 2024.
…
Read moreResearch integrity: a suspicion of violation– what to do?
You can use slides and information from this research tip, taking into account the conditions as set out in following Creative Commons license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
We can situate research practices on a continuum from good to bad. Bad research practices include misconduct or fraud, on the one hand, and …
Read moreResearch integrity: ALLEA code – European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity
You can use slides and information from this research tip, taking into account the conditions as set out in following Creative Commons license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
The ALLEA code
The European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity, is better known in the research community as the “ALLEA code”, simply because it …
Read moreResearch integrity: Commission for Research Integrity
You can use slides and information from this research tip, taking into account the conditions as set out in following Creative Commons license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
There’s no clear-cut definition of research integrity, nor do we have a list of 'does and don’ts' that apply for all researchers, in all …
Read moreResearch Integrity: online training tool Mind the GAP
What and how
'Mind the GAP' is an English-language online training tool for all researchers and all those involved in research, from PhD students to more experienced researchers, to trainers/teachers and policy makers. The focus is on research integrity and the promotion of good research practices in all disciplines.
The …
Read moreResearch integrity: reasons to care
You can use slides and information from this research tip, taking into account the conditions as set out in following Creative Commons license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Why you should care about research integrity
Research integrity is part of quality assurance in research. Doing the right thing always improves quality and it …
Read moreResearch integrity: the 'slippery slope' from good to bad
You can use slides and information from this research tip, taking into account the conditions as set out in following Creative Commons license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
The continuum from good to bad
Research integrity is part of researchers’ professional responsibility and inherently connected to what researchers do (or not) in a …
Read moreResearch integrity: trending topic – paper mills
This section draws on:
the relevant web pages of COPE concerning the paper mill phenomenon. https://publicationethics.org/publishers-perspective-paper-mills + related resources as mentioned on this page.
https://www.enago.com/academy/paper-mills-a-rising-concern-in-the-academic-community/
Current topics are often new and knowledge is subject to further development or deepening. This tip was prepared on the basis of the relevant …
Read moreResearch integrity: what is it about?
You can use slides and information from this research tip, taking into account the conditions as set out in following Creative Commons license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
(Research) Integrity
Integrity is about
- doing the right things
- doing things right
- all of this at the right time
- regardless of whether no …
Retraction Watch: what is it?
Retraction Watch, acquired by Crossref in September 2023, is a database that lists retracted (retractions) or corrected (corrections) publications, or publications with an expressions of concern. A blog is connected to the database, highlighting some of the retracted publications. Though Retraction Watch only started in 2010, older publications can …
Read moreSources: primary, secundary and tertiary sources
What are primary sources?
Primary sources are sources written (or made) by an original author. In exact sciences, these are lab logs, articles in which you present your research, the data you gathered during your research, etc. In social sciences these could be novels, paintings, archaeological objects, and so on. …
Read moreSystematic review: tips, tricks and tools
How do I formulate my research question and selection criteria?
Formulate a research question in which, if possible, all aspects of your topic are named. The PICO model is a tool for setting up a clinical research question, clearly describing the patient category (Population/Patient), …
Read more