Quality and impact of research in the humanities and social sciences

The issue of appropriate evaluation of research remains a major challenge for universities in Switzerland and around the world. The humanities and social sciences are primarily characterised by specific features that make it difficult to assess the quality of research on the basis of a few figures, due to the diversity of languages, methodological approaches and forms of publication. Between 2007 and 2016, several programmes and projects were set up to make the quality and impact of research in the humanities and social sciences more visible, and to develop new and innovative evaluation tools.

At UNIL, this project was led by C. Arnold (research department), D. Vinck (Prof. SSP) and A. Bumbaru (SSP research officer) in close collaboration with the deanships, FORS and researchers from the various faculties. The criteria identified were used in particular to define new headings in SERVAL and are used in the research evaluation criteria within certain faculties.

For young researchers, a CV content guide has been drawn up on the basis of these evaluation criteria and made available to them by the Graduate Campus. Visual representations of collaboration networks have been developed at the request of researchers. 

Thanks to analyses carried out on data sources relating to researchers‘ publications and meetings with deans, which helped to better define researchers’ needs, it was possible to explore and select relevant and exhaustive indicators for all disciplines. The various steps taken at UNIL have made it possible to draw up an extensive list of indicators and then to highlight twelve groups of indicators relating to research activity in the social sciences and humanities:

1. Academic and/or non-academic curricula
2.  Academic and non-academic professional experience
3. Scientific profile
4. Awards and distinctions
5. Membership of professional networks
6. Research: scientific partnerships & outside the academy
7. All types of publication
8. Various productions corresponding to the researcher's research activity: exhibition, film, etc.
9. Training the next generation of researchers: monitoring Bachelor's and Master's students, PhD students, interns, visiting researchers, post-docs, HDRs, etc.
10. Teaching and oral interventions inside and outside UNIL (conferences, colloquia, speeches, etc.)
11. Media communication
12. Scientific or professional organisation and leadership

These are very broad indicators, making it possible to circumscribe the activity of any researcher in SHS.

The University of Lausanne has offered to adapt and implement the methodological approach for detailed analysis of collaboration and partnership networks developed by the University of Neuchâtel. This implementation will be linked to the University of Lausanne's policy, one of whose key values is reflexivity. In this sense, it should help to support the reflection of researchers and university departments on their own activities. The aim is to give everyone the means to think about and implement the dynamics that correspond to their own projects and to develop professionally.
In particular, the aim is to support a process of continuous improvement in SHS research at all levels, particularly in terms of scientific collaborations and partnerships with the City, based on criteria deemed relevant by the players concerned.
Analysing the dynamics of the deployment of collaborative networks and partnerships will provide researchers with visualisations and indicators that clearly reflect the various forms of interaction in which they have invested. This will cover national and international academic collaborations (within and between research units, institutes, faculties and universities), as well as partnerships with local and extra-local extra-academic players (public and private sector). These visualisations will support their thinking about their own activities and the developments they wish to bring to fruition.
At an aggregate level, these visualisations will also provide food for thought for the university's components (laboratories, institutes, faculties, thematic network(s), etc.) about their own activities, so that they can reflect on them, take stock of them and refine or redirect their deployment. They will also make it possible to explore what can be put in place to increase the visibility of actual activity and its effects for researchers, the bodies that support them and those who have to make decisions (recruitment, appointments). They should also provide an interesting tool for dialogue with external bodies, such as the Canton, offering visibility in particular to what does not appear in publications and co-signatures.
The project is being led by Dominique Vinck (SSP) and Claire Arnold (Direction) and will be supported in particular by Alexandra Bumbaru (SSP).

A European network of specialists (COST Action CA15137) is examining the various aspects of research evaluation in the humanities and social sciences:

European Network for Research Evaluation in the Social Sciences and the Humanities

Since 2008, the University of Neuchâtel has developed a methodology and produced maps of research-related networks.

A wide range of information is available: evaluation-de-la-recherche.com

At national level, a network of specialists from Swiss universities meets regularly to share their experience of evaluating and promoting research in the humanities and social sciences. This programme is supported by Swissuniversities.