Fundamental Change in German Research Policy

摘要

Until Recently, An Essential Indicator in the evaluation of grant applicants by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), Germany's leading research foundation, was the quantity and impact of the applicant's publications. This policy fit the increasing attention paid to Web of Science-listed publications, impact factors, and the h-index for competitive funding in science (1, 2). The rationale is clear: On the basis of such variables, it is possible to compare performances and to provide a foundation for decisions. However, the process overlooks one fundamental point: the content of research.