Researchers as evaluators: tasks, tensions and politics |
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| Authors: | Liv Langfeldt and Svein Kyvik |
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| Institution: | (1) NIFU STEP Norwegian Institute for Studies in Innovation, Research and Education, Wergelandsveien 7, 0167 Oslo, Norway |
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| Abstract: | Researchers undertake a number of different research evaluation tasks, taking up a substantial part of their research time—estimated
to about one work month per year for a professor. This paper addresses the various evaluator roles and tasks researchers take
on, and the tensions they involve. How the research evaluator role may conflict with the researcher role and with societal
expectations is discussed, as well as the intrinsic tensions in peer review; including expertise vs. impartiality, evaluators
as neutral judges vs. exercise of power and influence, divergent peer assessments vs. the need for unanimous conclusions in
peer panels, peer review vs. increase in quantitative indicators, and accountability to society vs. peer review as preserving
the autonomy of science. The examination of these tensions provides insight in the political aspects of peer review, and a
basis for discussing an agenda for future studies on the role of peer evaluators. Major future challenges for peer review
concern how to meet demands for transparency and public accountability, and maintain academic autonomy. |
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