Russian Journal Whitelist: Questions to be answered
https://doi.org/10.24069/SEP-22-48
Abstract
The article studies the issues related to the compilation of the Russian Journal Whitelist, which is intended to be used in research evaluation. Currently, this list has been approved and posted on the website of the Russian Center for Scientific Information. Building a hierarchy of journals within this list is still under discussion. A number of questions have been raised in the academic community about the composition and principle of compiling the whitelist, and an answer is required. In addition, there are a number of broader questions, in particular, to what extent journal publications are the best way to evaluate research and researchers. I have formulated a number of such questions, inviting readers to reflection and discussion. Despite the difficult situation that has now developed in international scientific communication, one should look at it not only as a crisis, but also as an opportunity to create one of the best systems for research assessment at the moment, free from accumulated bias.
About the Author
D. M. Kochetkov
Ural Federal University; Leiden University
Netherlands
Netherlands
Dmitry M. Kochetkov, Cand. Sci. (Econ.), Senior Researcher of the Laboratory for University Development, Ural Federal University; Ph.D. candidate at the Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS), Leiden University.
Ekaterinburg, Leiden
References
1. Petty W. A Treatise of Taxes & Contributions. London: the Angel; 1662. URL: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/61588/61588-h/61588-h.htm (accessed: 20.11.2022).
2. Sokolov K., Poryvaeva L. The owner of the Web of Science database explained the disabling of access to Russian HEIs. RBC. 2022. URL: https://www.rbc.ru/technology_and_media/05/05/2022/6273a5a39a79477cc4ad2ed9 (accessed: 20.11.2022). (In Russ.)
3. Kochetkov D. Priority-2030: the New Excellence Initiative from Russia. Leiden Madtrics. 2022. URL: https://www.leidenmadtrics.nl/articles/priority-2030-the-new-excellence-initiative-from-russia (accessed: 20.11.2022).
4. Russia will develop new approaches to evaluating the output of researchers and scientific groups. TASS. Science. 2022. URL: https://nauka.tass.ru/nauka/14046279 (accessed: 20.11.2022). (In Russ.)
5. Experts discussed the creation of the National Research and Development Performance Evaluation System. Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation. 2022. URL: https://minobrnauki. gov.ru/press-center/news/novosti-ministerstva/48219/ (accessed: 20.11.2022). (In Russ.)
6. “Whitelist” of scientific journals has been approved. Russian Academy of Sciences. 2022. URL: https://new.ras.ru/activities/news/utverzhden-belyy-spisok-nauchnykh-zhurnalov/ (accessed: 20.11.2022). (In Russ.)
7. Shannon C. E. A Mathematical Theory of Communication. Bell System Technical Journal. 1948;27:379–423. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1538-7305.1948.tb01338.x
8. Dennet D. C. From Bacteria to Bach and Back. W. W. Norton & Company; 2017.
9. Hicks D., Wouters P., Waltman L., de Rijcke S., Rafols I. Bibliometrics: The Leiden Manifesto for research metrics. Nature. 2015:520;429–431. https://doi.org/10.1038/520429a
10. San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment. DORA. 2012. URL: https://sfdora.org/read/ (accessed: 20.11.2022).
11. Journal Lists: How Useless Are They? Researchgate. URL: https://www.researchgate.net/post/Journal_Lists_How_Useless_Are_They (accessed: 18.12.2022).
12. Skripnik K. D. Magna Charta Universitatum and historical background for its principles. Proceedings of South Federal University. Pedagogical Sciences. 2015:(1);107–116. (In Russ.)
13. Maslow A. Motivation and Personality. New York: Harper & Row; 1954.
14. Preprint reviews & comments enabled journals to find dozens of new reviewers & editors. ASAPbio. 2022. URL: https://asapbio.org/preprint-reviewer-recruitment-network-phase-2 (accessed: 20.11.2022).
15. Zhang L., Sivertsen G. The new research assessment reform in China and its implementation. Scholarly Assessment Reports. 2020;2(1):3. URL: https://scholarlyassessmentreports.org/articles/10.29024/sar.15 (accessed: 20.11.2022).
16. Guide to the REF results. REF. 2021. URL: https://ref.ac.uk/guidance-on-results/guidance-on-ref2021-results/ (accessed: 20.11.2022).
17. Medvedeva O. O., Dyachenko E. L. Journal whitelisting: international compilation experience and the role in science governance [Presentation]. In: 9th International Scientific and Practical Conference “WorldClass Scientific Publication – 2021: Global Trends and National Priorities”, Moscow, Russian Federation, Moscow, May 24–27, 2021. URL: https://rassep.ru/academy/biblioteka/106130/ (accessed: 20.11.2022). (In Russ.)
18. Patwardhan B., Nagarkar S., Gadre S. R., Lakhotia S. C., Katoch V. M., Moher D. A critical analysis of the “UGC-approved list of journals”. Current Science. 2018;114(6):1299–1303. https://doi.org/10.18520/cs/v114/i06/1299-1303
19. Bisaccio M. Announcement regarding brand-wide language changes, effective immediately. Cabells the Source. 2020. URL: https://blog.cabells.com/2020/06/08/announcement/ (accessed: 20.11.2022).
Review
Supporting agencies: I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my wife Irina, as well as to my prominent colleagues Vladimir Pislyakov, Alexei Zheleznov, and Ludo Waltman, whose comments made this text much better. This study received no external funding
For citations:
Kochetkov D.M. Russian Journal Whitelist: Questions to be answered. Science Editor and Publisher. 2022;7(2):185-190. https://doi.org/10.24069/SEP-22-48
Views: 3147
Email this article 
