SCOPE Framework for Research Evaluation

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SCOPE Framework for Research Evaluation

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=\”.vc_custom_1700495502387{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}\”]The SCOPE framework for research evaluation is a five-stage model for evaluating responsibly. It is a practical step-by-step process designed to help research managers, or anyone involved in conducting research evaluations, in planning new evaluations as well as check existing evaluations. SCOPE is an acronym, where S stands for START with what you value, C for CONTEXT considerations, O for OPTIONS for evaluating, P for PROBE deeply, and E for EVALUATE your evaluation.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=\”.vc_custom_1700497184556{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}\”]\"\"[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=\”.vc_custom_1700503219950{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}\”]

Principles of SCOPE

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SCOPE in Depth 

Written guidance

 Videos

In the Press

Articles & blog posts

  • Himanen, Conte, Gauffriau, Strom, Wolf & Gadd. The SCOPE framework – implementing ideals of responsible research assessment [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]. F1000 Research 2024, 12:1241 (https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.140810.2)

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SCOPE Case Studies

 

Study Link
University of Turku (2023) POLICY FOR RESPONSIBLE ASSESSMENT OF RESEARCH AND RESEARCHERS based on SCOPE.

https://www.utu.fi/sites/default/files/public%3A//media/file/Policy%20for%

20responsible%20assessment%20of%20research%20and%20researcher.pdf
Loughborough University (2023) Statement on responsible research assessment at Loughborough University based around SCOPE. https://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/support/publishing/responsible-research-assessment/
University of Surrey (2023) Use of SCOPE to develop open research indicators. https://osf.io/v9wm8
Bhattacharjee Suchiradipta, Moumita Koley, Jahnab Bharadwaj (2023). Workshop on Research Assessment Practices in Indian Funding Agencies. Journal of Science Policy & Governance. Vol 22, 1, 2023.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/369032650_Workshop_

on_Research_Assessment_Practices_in_Indian_Funding_Agencies
International Science Council (2023) The future of research evaluation: A synthesis of current debates and developments https://council.science/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ResearchEvaluation_CSF_2023.jpg https://council.science/publications/the-future-of-research-evaluation-a-synthesis-of-current-debates-and-developments/
University of Leeds use of SCOPE to select metrics to track improvements in Research Culture: Interim reflections https://sway.office.com
INORMS SCOPE Workshop Case Study: University of Glasgow: Supporting the careers of others. https://re-ga.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/inorms-scope-workshop-case-study-university-of-glasgow-final.pdf
INORMS SCOPE Workshop Case Study: Emerald Publishing: Evaluating the diversity of editorial boards https://re-ga.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/inorms-scope-workshop-case-study-emerald-publishing-final.pdf
SCOPE Mini Case Study: Creating awareness about responsible research evaluation: SCOPE used in interviews with Higher Education (HE) leaders in Denmark https://re-ga.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/danish-universities-use-of-scope-in-interviews-with-danish-he-leaders.pdf
SCOPE Case Study: Oslo Metropolitan University: Lectures in the master\’s course “Scholarly Communication” https://re-ga.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/oslo-metropolitan-university-use-of-scope-in-masters-program.pdf
INORMS SCOPE Case Study: The UK Higher Education Funding Bodies: Developing a new national research evaluation system https://re-ga.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/inorms-scope-case-study-uk-he-funding-bodies-final.pdf
UK Committee on Research Integrity (UK-CORI) use of SCOPE to develop indicators of research integrity https://ukcori.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Indicators-of-Research-Integrity-UK-Committee-on-Research-Integrity-report.pdf
Newcastle University use of SCOPE to develop a Research Culture Index https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/news-and-views/e-evaluation-refining-and-aligning-research-culture-measures
Use of SCOPE to develop a framework for assessing openness at the University of Reading https://recognition.ukrn-openresearch.ac.uk/case-study-reading.html
League of European Research Universities (2024). Next Generation Metrics for Scientific and Scholarly Research in Europe https://www.leru.org/files/Publications/Next-Generation-Metrics-for-Scientific-and-Scholarly-Research-in-Europe_Paper.pdf
Transforming Research Assessment at CYENS: Towards a Responsible, Inclusive and Impact-Driven Model (TRAC) https://coara.eu/coara-boost-cascade-funding/cascade-funding-selected-projects-2/
Loughborough University (2025) Evidence-informed Output Narratives https://recognition.ukrn-openresearch.ac.uk/case-study-loughborough.html

[/mk_table][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=\”1/3\”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=\”.vc_custom_1744105986141{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}\”]One of the underpinning messages of SCOPE is not to abandon academic rigor when it comes to management practice. Most institutions have expertise in research evaluation – utilize that expertise! To persuade senior leaders of the benefits of responsible research evaluation, the group has also produced a set of arguments, available in several languages:

Five arguments to persuade HE Leaders to evaluate research responsibly (Translations: Chinese, Danish, Icelandic, Norwegian, Brazilian Portuguese)

The INORMS Research Evaluation Group can be invited to facilitate a workshop on the SCOPE process, for more information, please contact the chair [e.a.gadd@lboro.ac.uk].

For news coverage of this work, please see our Outputs & Outreach page.

Any feedback you have on this work, including any local implementations of the SCOPE process, can be emailed to any of the INORMS Research Evaluation Group members.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column][vc_column_text css=\”.vc_custom_1700504651111{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}\”]

Key Findings and Outputs

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