SAGE publishes The Metric Tide review into the role of metrics in Research Assessment

Los Angeles, CA. SAGE Publishing, a leading independent academic publisher of journals, books, and digital media, today announced that it has published, in print, the authoritative independent review on the role of metrics in research assessment, The Metric Tide.

First released online only in July 2015, The Metric Tide is the final report from the Independent Review of the Role of Metric in Research Assessment and Management. The review was chaired by Professor James Wilsdon, Professor of Research Policy, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Sheffield, supported by an independent and multidisciplinary group of experts in scientometrics, research funding, research policy, publishing, university management and research administration. The review looks in detail at the potential uses and limitations of research metrics and indicators, exploring the use of metrics within institutions and across disciplines.

SAGE’s publication of the report reflects a commitment to both supporting and engaging with the debates around new ways of assessing our academic system, and the importance of ensuring these debates can be accessed by all.

“The way we value, govern and fund research is a crucial process and getting it right is particularly challenging as we see the rise of so many quantitative measures, while debating the value of peer review” commented Ziyad Marar, SAGE’s Global Publishing Director. “The Metric Tide comes at a critical juncture and will help guide this debate to ensure a flourishing research environment in years to come. James Wilsdon and his team have done an exemplary job with this review and we at SAGE are delighted to be publishing their important work.”

Further commenting on the publication of the report, James Wilsdon, author and chair of the review surmised:

“When The Metric Tide was first released online in the summer of 2015, it sparked an energetic debate between researchers, manager, funders and metrics providers. The question of how we measure academic qualities and impacts in a robust but responsible way is high on policy and funder agendas worldwide. We are delighted to be able to bring the report to a wider audience through this partnership with SAGE, a publisher closely aligned to our ethos of responsible, engaged and innovative research, and we look forward to the continued discussion that will flow from this.”

The Metric Tide can be accessed here. James Wilsdon and his co-authors will also be presenting the report at the following events:

• 1 February: Impact and Metrics in the Arts and Humanities, workshop at Trinity College, Dublin, where  James Wilsdon be speaking about The Metric Tide http://www.tcd.ie/trinitylongroomhub/events/details/2016/2016-02-01research_metrics.php
• 4/5 February: Gaming Metrics conference at UC Davis, where Paul Wouters (co-author of Metric Tide) is speaking
• 15 February - Open science session at the AAAS annual meeting in Washington DC, where James Wilsdon will be speaking on responsible metrics

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Sara Miller McCune founded SAGE Publishing in 1965 to support the dissemination of usable knowledge and educate a global community. SAGE is a leading international provider of innovative, high-quality content publishing more than 900 journals and over 800 new books each year, spanning a wide range of subject areas. A growing selection of library products includes archives, data, case studies and video. SAGE remains majority owned by our founder and after her lifetime will become owned by a charitable trust that secures the company’s continued independence. Principal offices are located in Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore, Washington DC and Melbourne. www.sagepublishing.com