Responsible Research Assessment

At Northumbria we are working on how we can improve how we assess research and use metrics responsibly.

Responsible Research Assessment is the fair, transparent, and expert-led evaluation of research and researchers. It utilises context-sensitive judgement and inclusive values to recognise quality, integrity, and impact across all disciplines.

We are signatories of DORA (The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment) and a subcommittee of Research Culture Committee has been working on the development of our responsible research assessment principles and implementation.

We have developed a set of Northumbria Responsible Research Assessment Principles and activities are underway to celebrate, promote and embed them across all relevant policies and processes.

Research assessment is conducted in the light of our University Values and Behaviours, with full consideration of our commitments to Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI). Northumbria University is committed to providing the resources necessary for promoting, delivering and monitoring RRA, including for data-handling systems. The following should be considered when undertaking any form of research assessment:

Purpose

We assess research with purpose and clarity, ensuring criteria are transparent, context-sensitive, and aligned with the values of our research community.

Engagement

We engage and empower the research community, involving researchers in shaping assessment processes and providing feedback, training, and support to foster shared responsibility.

Integrity

We promote integrity, openness, and trust in assessment, recognising responsible research practices and encouraging open research wherever possible.

Expertise

We apply expert judgement to evaluate research on its own merits, using peer review and narrative evidence to recognise quality, creativity, and disciplinary diversity.

Responsibility

We use indicators responsibly and with care, applying them only where appropriate, well-contextualised, and never as a substitute for expert judgement.

Diversity

We value the full range of research contributions, including diverse outputs, practices, and roles that support and enable research excellence.

Please see the full Responsible Research Assessment Principles.