Science and technology indicators in & for the peripheries. A research agenda

Abstract

This paper aims to propose a research agenda that explores the problems that emerge when S&T indicators are used in peripheral contexts, that is, in geographical or social spaces that are somehow marginal to the centres of scientific activity. In these situations evaluators and decision-makers are likely to use indicators that were designed to reflect variables relevant in the dominant social and geographical contexts --i.e. in the leading countries, languages, disciplines, etc.--, but that are usually not adequate in peripheral contexts. We propose to examine various dimensions of periphery. First, the cognitive dimension: areas of research, such as the humanities that capture less attention (and resources) than the more prestigious disciplines, such as molecular biology. Second, the geographical dimension: e.g. global south vs. global north, regions vs. metropolises. Third, the social group dimension: women, the poor, or perhaps the elderly have social needs that are different from those of richer or more powerful groups --and the problems affecting the former tend be less researched than those of the later. The research agenda proposed would investigate the mechanisms by which performance indicators tend to be biased against the peripheries (e.g. bias in language, journal or topic coverage in conventional databases). We suggest how these biases may suppress scientific diversity and shift research towards a higher degree of homogeneity.