I was told impact metrics could make or shatter careers. Instead,they broke my faith in scientific researchThe first time I heard approximately the impact factor I was a few weeks into my PhD. A candidate due to finish in a couple of months warned me emphatically: “It makes or breaks careers.” In my innocence, I didn’t think much approximately it and returned to concentrating on my research. A decade later, and metrics such as these came to dominate my work and ultimately drove me to give up my permanent academic post and move into industry. Since leaving academia,I own found myself wondering approximately the effect of these metrics on the profession and practice of science. Related: Pressure to publish in journals drives too much cookie-cutter research Continue reading...
Source: guardian.co.uk