Tag: quality assessment

Assess the quality of a scholarly journal

Researchers can choose from tens of thousands of scholarly journals to disseminate their research results. It's not always easy to find out which ones are reliable.

General guidelines
  • Think. Check. Submit is a checklist to help you identify trustworthy journals and publishers.
  • Have (many of) your trusted peers published in …
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Clinical trial: how do I evaluate the quality?

There are various free, internationally accredited and used tools (i.e. scales and checklists) for evaluating the quality of clinical studies. More information is available on the webpages of the Knowledge Centre for Health Ghent (Question: How do I evaluate the quality of a clinical study?). 

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Critical reading: the CRAAP test

You want to base your academic, scientific research on scientifically sound sources. Often, the publisher already gives you an insight into how reliable the source is; publishers of A1-journals, for instance, already peer-review their articles. Academic libraries collect scientific literature, etc.
However, you can also find many interesting sources on …

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Evidence-based guideline: how can I evaluate the quality?

The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation Instrument (AGREE II) is a general tool for authors and users of guidelines to evaluate the methodological quality of clinical guidelines. The AGREE II tool is available in different languages, including Dutch and English.

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GenAI: responsible use in research

What is it? 

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is a subfield of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that focuses on creating content (e.g. text, images, sounds, 3D models, code, …).

It also makes a wide range of (other) applications available, many of which impact scientific research. Among other applications, it can help …

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Journal: what does "peer-reviewed" mean?

It is essential to researchers to publish in peer-reviewed journals. A peer review means that the quality of the research will be assessed by colleagues (usually before publication). Some monograph publishers also work with peer review, which means that the quality of the books they publish has been assessed by …

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Peer review: what is it?

Peer review (sometimes also called ‘expert review’ or ‘merit review) implies that colleagues (‘peers’) assess the research of other scholars, groups of scholars or entire institutions. Peer review is considered an effective way of safeguarding the quality of research. All researchers are involved in peer review: as the person to …

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Publish: how to submit an article in a scholarly journal?

How do you get your article published in a journal? How do you choose the right journal?

The Knowledge Center for Health Ghent (KCGG) lists several tips on getting published for the medical sciences. Here's a selection of generally applicable tips.

How do you select a journal? Criterion Tools Content    Read more

Research assessment: altmetrics and using Altmetric

What are altmetrics?

Altmetrics are measures that capture the attention a resource generates on the social web or other sources. They can be applied to journal articles, books/book chapters, software, datasets, websites, videos, etc.

Altmetrics attempt to show influence and engagement of work through blogs, reference management systems, scholarly social …

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Research assessment: guideline for responsible evaluation

Each research evaluation at Ghent University adheres to eight principles, which together ensure that research can be evaluated in a responsible and high-quality manner.

More on Responsible research assessment

1. The evaluation is necessary

It is necessary, useful and meaningful for Ghent University to organize this evaluation at this …

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Research assessment: guidelines when using quantitative indicators (for evaluation organisers)

In general

There are many quantitative indicators, and new ones are still being developed. Examples of quantitative indicators include: the number of (scholarly) publications, number of citations, citation impact (normalized), number of downloaded (open access) papers, number of users of deposited datasets, number of mentions of a study/publication on social …

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Research assessment: tips for researchers who want to use quantitative indicators in their CV, project application, etc.

There are many quantitative indicators, and new ones are still being developed. Examples of quantitative indicators include: the number of (scholarly) publications, number of citations, citation impact (normalized), number of downloaded (open access) papers, number of users of deposited datasets, number of mentions of a study/publication on social media and/or …

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Research assessment: what are ARRA and CoARA?

The Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) brings together research institutions, research funders, national accreditation agencies, scientific academies and their umbrella organizations, all aiming for a global reform of how research and researchers are evaluated. All CoARA members have signed the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment (ARRA). Central to …

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Research assessment: what is DORA?

The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) is a global initiative intended to guide the way in which research is assessed at the point of recruitment and promotion, and in the awarding of project funding. Since 2012, all actors involved in the evaluation of research – research performing and …

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Research integrity training: 7 knowledge clips

The knowledge clips on training research integrity: a series of 7 clips 

In total there are 7 knowledge clips available on training research integrity. They are all in English.

Knowledge clip 1 - presentation: the basics

Knowledge clip 2 - presentation: the trainer's perspective

Knowledge clip 3 - exercise: the …

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Research integrity training: knowledge clip 1: the basics

Knowledge clip 1: the basics 

Knowledge clip 1 is a general and rather theoretical introduction about what research integrity is, and why it is important, incl. all the technical jargon. Using the ALLEA code, it is explained how researchers can behave in an integer way and what kind of behaviour …

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Research integrity training: knowledge clip 2: the trainer perspective

Knowledge clip 2: the trainer perspective 

In order to make a successful training module, stand-alone or as part of another course, there are some terms and conditions you as a teacher/trainer need to consider, in terms of the design, the content of the training and the characteristics of the trainer. This …

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Research integrity training: knowledge clip 3: the good researcher

Knowledge clip 3: the good researcher  

In the exercise ‘the good researcher’ the trainees identify the characteristics of a good researcher. They are stimulated to explore the different meanings of ‘goodness’, and to reflect on similarities and differences between researchers and research disciplines. As a trainer, you can link the …

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Research integrity training: knowledge clip 4: the lab

Knowledge clip 4: the lab

This clip contains the exercise “The lab – who and what“. The movie and roleplay “The lab” was produced by the American Office of Research Integrity, ORI.

In the exercise ‘the lab’ the trainees identify what is at stake (or at risk) in the event …

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Research integrity training: knowledge clip 5: the dilemma game

Knowledge clip 5: the dilemma game

The Dilemma Game has been developed by Erasmus University Rotterdam to stimulate awareness of research integrity. 

The game wants to make trainees reflect on a particular case, a so-called dilemma. They should consider how to act in an integer way whenever they are confronted …

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Research integrity training: knowledge clip 6: the middle position

Knowledge clip 6: the middle position

One of the most interesting and meaningful things to do in a research integrity training is to analyse a real-life case. That is: the description of a situation in which researchers are being challenged to act according to the values and norms of research …

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Research integrity training: knowledge clip 7: closure

Knowledge clip 7: closure

This clip gives some inspiration on how to close or wrap up a workshop or class on research integrity.

It is advisable to watch clip 1 (basics) and clip 2 (trainer perspective) first.

 

This clip dates from February 2022 - last check February 2024. 

  …

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Research integrity: a suspicion of violation– what to do?

You can use slides and information from this research tip, taking into account the conditions as set out in following Creative Commons license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

 

We can situate research practices on a continuum from good to bad. Bad research practices include misconduct or fraud, on the one hand, and …

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Research integrity: ALLEA code – European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity

You can use slides and information from this research tip, taking into account the conditions as set out in following Creative Commons license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

 

The ALLEA code

The European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity, is better known in the research community as the “ALLEA code”, simply because it …

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Research integrity: Commission for Research Integrity

 

You can use slides and information from this research tip, taking into account the conditions as set out in following Creative Commons license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

 

There’s no clear-cut definition of research integrity, nor do we have a list of 'does and don’ts' that apply for all researchers, in all …

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Research Integrity: online training tool Mind the GAP

What and how

'Mind the GAP' is an English-language online training tool for all researchers and all those involved in research, from PhD students to more experienced researchers, to trainers/teachers and policy makers. The focus is on research integrity and the promotion of good research practices in all disciplines.

The …

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Research integrity: reasons to care

You can use slides and information from this research tip, taking into account the conditions as set out in following Creative Commons license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

 

Why you should care about research integrity

Research integrity is part of quality assurance in research. Doing the right thing always improves quality and it …

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Research integrity: the 'slippery slope' from good to bad

You can use slides and information from this research tip, taking into account the conditions as set out in following Creative Commons license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

 

The continuum from good to bad

Research integrity is part of researchers’ professional responsibility and inherently connected to what researchers do (or not) in a …

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Research integrity: what is it about?

You can use slides and information from this research tip, taking into account the conditions as set out in following Creative Commons license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ 

 

(Research) Integrity

 

Integrity is about

  • doing the right things
  • doing things right
  • all of this at the right time
  • regardless of whether no …
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Retraction Watch: what is it?

Retraction Watch, acquired by Crossref in September 2023, is a database that lists retracted (retractions) or corrected (corrections) publications, or publications with an expressions of concern. A blog is connected to the database, highlighting some of the retracted publications. Though Retraction Watch only started in 2010, older publications can …

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Sources: primary, secundary and tertiary sources

What are primary sources?

Primary sources are sources written (or made) by an original author. In exact sciences, these are lab logs, articles in which you present your research, the data you gathered during your research, etc. In social sciences these could be novels, paintings, archaeological objects, and so on. …

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Systematic review: tips, tricks and tools

How do I formulate my research question and selection criteria?

Formulate a research question in which, if possible, all aspects of your topic are named. The PICO model is a tool for setting up a clinical research question, clearly describing the patient category (Population/Patient), …

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