Abstract
Much scientometric research aims to be relevant to policy, but such research only rarely has a notable policy impact. In this paper, we examine four exemplary cases of policy impact from quantitative studies of science. The cases are analyzed in light of lessons learned about the use of evidence in policy making in health services, which provides very thorough explorations of the problems inherent in policy use of academic research. The analysis highlights key dimensions of the examples, which offer lessons for those aspiring to influence policy with quantitative studies of science.
Highlights
Over the past few decades, bibliometrics in the policy realm has become welded to the broader neoliberal, new public management agenda of quantifying university and researcher performance in order to foster competition
We finish with a discussion of the tensions between the three characteristics and draw out lessons for bibliometricians aspiring to policy impact
[The House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology] asked the Congressional Budget Office to comment on the policy relevance and statistical accuracy of Edwin Mansfield’s estimates of the social rate of return from academic research
Summary
Over the past few decades, bibliometrics in the policy realm has become welded to the broader neoliberal, new public management agenda of quantifying university and researcher performance in order to foster competition. Google Scholar’s deployment of the h-index, ResearchGate’s posting of oeuvre metrics, and PLOS ONE and others’ posting of article metrics have enabled researchers to self-quantify. Exemplary quantitative studies of science that had policy impact of literature on the use of evidence in health policy. The literature on health-related evidence translation in public decision-making is one of the best developed—more so than that in many other policy-related areas. It is a rich source of insights into how research can influence policymaking. We finish with a discussion of the tensions between the three characteristics and draw out lessons for bibliometricians aspiring to policy impact
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