There is a pressing need to improve the ways in which the output of scientific research is evaluated by funding agencies, academic institutions, and other parties, say journal editors, researchers and scientific bodies, in the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment
The outputs from scientific research are many and varied, including: research articles reporting new knowledge, data, reagents, and software; intellectual property; and highly trained young scientists. Funding agencies, institutions that employ scientists, and scientists themselves all have a desire, and need, to assess the quality and impact of scientific outputs. It is imperative that scientific output be measured accurately, evaluated wisely, and used thoughtfully.
