Evaluation of research in the humanities in Norway: Publication and research personnel. Statistics and analyses

This report provides statistics and indicators of the scholarly peer-reviewed publication output and research personnel within humanities. The report was commissioned by the Research Council of Norway and the main purpose is to provide background information to the ongoing evaluation of the research activities within the humanities in Norway. In addition to the main report, there are eight appendix reports which contain publication and research personnel indicators at panel-levels

Academic vs. biological age in research on academic careers: a large-scale study with implications for scientifically developing systems

Biological age is an important sociodemographic factor in studies on academic careers (research productivity, scholarly impact, and collaboration patterns). It is assumed that the academic age, or the time elapsed from the first publication, is a good proxy for biological age. In this study, we analyze the limitations of the proxy in academic career studies, using as an example the entire population of Polish academic scientists and scholars visible in the last decade in global science and holding at least a PhD (N = 20,569). The proxy works well for science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) disciplines; however, for non-STEMM disciplines (particularly for humanities and social sciences), it has a dramatically worse performance. This negative conclusion is particularly important for systems that have only recently visible in global academic journals. The micro-level data suggest a delayed participation of social scientists and humanists in global science networks, with practical implications for predicting biological age from academic age. We calculate correlation coefficients, present contingency analysis of academic career stages with academic positions and age groups, and create a linear multivariate regression model. Our research suggests that in scientifically developing countries, academic age as a proxy for biological age should be used more cautiously than in advanced countries: ideally, it should be used only for STEMM disciplines.127Scientometric

Gender Disparities in International Research Collaboration: A Study of 25,000 University Professors

In this large-scale research based on bibliometric, biographical and administrative data, we examine how gender disparities in international research collaboration differ by collaboration intensity, academic position, age, and academic discipline. The following are the major findings: (1) While female scientists exhibit a higher rate of general, national, and institutional collaboration, male scientists exhibit a higher rate of international collaboration, a finding critically important in explaining gender disparities in impact, productivity, and access to large grants. (2) An aggregated picture of gender disparities hides a more nuanced cross-disciplinary picture of them. (3) An analysis of international research collaboration at three separate intensity levels (low, medium, and high) reveals that male scientists dominate in international collaboration at each level. However, at each level, there are specific disciplines in which females collaborate more than males. Furthermore (4), gender disparities in international research collaboration are clearly linked with age: they are the lowest and statistically insignificant for young scientists and the highest and statistically significant for the oldest scientists. Finally, we estimate the odds ratios of being involved in international research collaboration using an analytical linear logistic model. The examined sample includes 25,463 internationally productive Polish university professors from 85 universities, grouped into 24 disciplines, and 158,743 Scopus-indexed articles

Internationalists and Locals: International Research Collaboration in a Resource-Poor System

The principal distinction drawn in this study is between research “internationalists” and “locals.” The former are scientists involved in international research collaboration while the latter group are not. These two distinct types of scientist compete for academic prestige, research funding, and international recognition. International research collaboration proves to be a powerful stratifying force. As a clearly defined subgroup, internationalists are a different academic species, accounting for 51.4% of Polish scientists; predominantly male and older, they have longer academic experience and higher academic degrees and occupy higher academic positions. Across all academic clusters, internationalists consistently produce more than 90% of internationally co-authored publications, representing 2,320% of locals’ productivity for peer-reviewed articles and 1,600% for peer-reviewed article equivalents. Internationalists tend to spend less time than locals on teaching-related activities, more time on research, and more time on administrative duties. Based on a large-scale academic survey (N = 3,704), some new predictors of international research collaboration were identified by multivariate analyses. The findings have global policy implications for resource-poor science systems “playing catch-up” in terms of academic careers, productivity patterns, and research internationalization policies.125149Scientometric

Can school nurses improve the school environment in Norwegian primary schools? A protocol for a randomized controlled trial

This protocol describes a randomized controlled trial where additional school nurse resources are assigned to work systemically with schools to improve the school environment and reduce bullying among and absence of 5th–7th grade students. Approximately 9000 students will have participated each year from 2018 to 2020 from 107 schools located in 12 Norwegian municipalities. Academic performance is studied as a secondary outcome.acceptedVersio

Gender Equality in Academia

What is the state of gender equality in science and technology? Gender Equality in Academia – from Knowledge to Change presents the results of a comprehensive research project and program of initiatives at the University of Oslo’s Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. Researchers have examined gender equality within the department, looking at reasons for imbalance, and at what occurs when measures to promote equality are implemented. The book opens with an in-depth study of careers, gender issues and gender balance within academia. The study, based on questionnaires, interviews and follow-up evaluation, provides a new and updated understanding of the daily lives of academics in Norway. Among the topics covered are perceptions of equality and gender balance, effects of male dominance, sexual harassment, gender with respect to publishing, and the relationship between gender and diversity. In addition to presenting new empirical data, the book is also an innovative contribution to theoretical development within gender equality research. In the second part of the book, the authors present three working models that elucidate current mechanisms recreating gender imbalance, and challenges for gender equality. The book’s final part consists of analyses of measures taken to increase gender equality within the department and their effects, and what an organization can do to increase gender equality. The range of topics in this book make it relevant for everyone concerned with gender equality in research and higher education. Researchers, administrators, students, other practitioners, and politicians will all find this book of interest.Hvordan står det til med likestillingen innenfor realfag og teknologi? Likestilling i akademia – fra kunnskap til endring presenterer resultatene fra et omfattende forsknings- og tiltaksprosjekt ved Det matematisk-naturvitenskapelige fakultet ved Universitetet i Oslo. Forskerne har undersøkt likestillingssituasjonen ved fakultetet, sett på årsaker til ulikestilling, og på hva som skjer når man iverksetter tiltak for å fremme likestilling. Boka innleder med en dybdestudie av karriere, kjønn og likestilling i akademia. Studien, som er basert på både spørreundersøkelser, intervjuer og følgeforskning, gir ny og oppdatert kunnskap om forskerhverdagen i norsk akademia. Blant temaene som belyses er syn på likestilling og kjønnsbalanse, effekter av mannsdominans, seksuell trakassering, kjønn og publisering, og hvordan kjønn og mangfold henger sammen. I tillegg til å presentere ny empiri utgjør boka også et nyskapende bidrag til teoriutvikling innen likestillingsforskningen. I bokas del 2 presenterer forfatterne tre arbeidsmodeller som belyser aktuelle mekanismer og utfordringer i likestillingsarbeidet. Deretter trekkes linjen videre til arbeidet for å fremme likestilling. I siste del analyseres tiltakene som ble iverksatt for å øke likestillingen ved fakultetet, hvilke effekter de hadde, og hva en organisasjon kan gjøre for å øke likestillingen. Bredden i boka gjør den relevant for alle som er opptatt av likestilling i forskning og høyere utdanning. Både forskere, ansatte, studenter, praktikere og politikere vil ha stor nytte av boka. Øystein Gullvåg Holter er professor emeritus ved Senter for tverrfaglig kjønnsforskning, Universitetet i Oslo. Lotta Snickare er forsker ved Det matematisk-naturvitenskapelige fakultet, Universitetet i Oslo, og ved Kungliga tekniska högskolan, Stockholm

Impact of Scholarly Publications and the Selected Socio-Demographic Factors

In a dynamically developing scientific environment, there is a tendency toward creating mechanisms that objectively evaluate the output of individual scientific units. Selected indicators can be applied, inter alia, to work out specific criteria for awarding funds for scientific research activities. One of the most important indicators used is the impact of researchers’ publications, which today determines the overall outcome of the evaluation of a research unit. The key question in this context is whether any socio-demographic factors are correlated with the impact of the scholarship work of individual researchers and, if yes, what those indicators are, specifically. The purpose of this study was to determine the existence and, if confirmed, the nature of correlation between the impact of researchers’ publications and selected socio-demographic factors such as: age, gender and family status. The study sample included all the academic employees of the Faculty of Political Sciences and International Studies, Nicolaus Copernicus University, in Toruń (Poland). The results demonstrated that the socio-demographic factors considered showed little correlation with publications’ impactfulness as measured in the Polish evaluation system of research units

Sport, children's rights and violence prevention: A source book on global issues and local programmes

Copyright @ Brunel University, 2012In line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), UNICEF has been a strong advocate of children’s right to leisure and play. It recognizes the intrinsic value sports have in promoting the child’s health and well-being, education and development, and social inclusion, including by fostering the culture of tolerance and peace. Every child has the right to play safely, in an enabling and protective environment. However, although under-researched, evidence shows that children have been subjected to various forms of violence, abuse and exploitation ranging from undue pressure to achieve high performance, beatings and physical punishment, sexual harassment and assaults, to child labour and trafficking. The violence that children experience can lead to lifelong consequences for their health and development. It can also have devastating consequences. Article 19 of the CRC asserts that all children have the right to be protected from violence, calling on State Parties to take all appropriate measures for the protection of children, including while in the care others. Measures include strengthening child protection systems; increasing awareness and strengthening the protective role of parents, teachers, coaches and others caregivers as well as the media; developing and implementing standards for the protection and well-being of children in sports; implementing sport for development and other international programmes and initiatives; and improving data collection and research to develop an evidence-base of “what works”. Above all, the protection of young athletes starts by ensuring that those around children regard them in a way that is appropriate to their needs and that is respectful of their rights - as children first and athletes second. This book provides an expanded set of evidence and resources to back up the 2010 report from the UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre in Florence, Italy - Protecting Children from Violence in Sport: A review with a focus on industrialized countries. I am delighted to provide a Foreword as it complements the ongoing work being done by UNICEF in development and humanitarian environments to make sport a safer place for children