Humanities research ‘at risk’ from metrics-heavy assessment

While I agree with the writer that bibliometric measures are inappropriate for gauging research quality, the alternative panel-based approach is not without its own problems. Although I cannot speak for the humanities, the experience of the 2018 Creative Arts panel suggests that the PBRF struggled to avoid bias and inconsistency. This highlights the broader challenge of developing an assessment system that is both fair and responsive to disciplinary differences. Panels must represent the full scope of research outputs and remain attuned to contemporary creative practices. In this case, the result was a system that demonstrably rewarded older academics with higher grades while disadvantaging younger researchers working in emerging fields. Frankly, it is surprising that no formal inquiry followed, particularly given that individualised grades were provided directly to university executives and managers.