International Development Studies (IDS) is a “multi- and inter-disciplinary field of study (i.e. not a discipline) that seeks to understand social, economic, political, technological and cultural aspects of societal change, particularly in developing countries”. (EADI, 2005: 10)
Due to its multi- and inter- disciplinary nature, IDS face some specific challenges in terms of the evaluation of its scientific impact and ‘excellence’. This performance is usually evaluated by means of the so-called “Scientific impact factors”, such as the Thomson Reuter’s Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) and the Elsevier’s Scimago Journal Rank (SJR).
The main goal of this panel is to understand the implications of a multi- and inter- disciplinary field of study in terms of its scientific performance, assess its impact factors in the main international citation indexes, look at the emergence of peer-reviewed eJournal in online open access and alternative indexes, and propose actions that EADI and other European development studies associations can pursue in order to increase the scientific impact and attractiveness of IDS.
Speakers
Scientific Impact in a Renewed “EADI Vision” on Development Studies
Gilles Carbonnier (The Graduate Institute, Geneva) and Aude Mellet (research officer, NORRAG, Geneva)
Development studies. Are we working in a low impact field of study?
Sergio Tezanos Vázquez and Carmen Trueba, Universidad de Cantabria (Spain) and Red Española de Estudios del Desarrollo (REEDES)
Alternative Metrics of Research Impact in Multilateral Agencies
Kate Williams, University of Cambridge
The Rise and Impact of Development Discourses in International Development Studies
Rogelio Madrueño Aguilar and Sergio Tezanos Vázquez, University of Göttingen and REEDES / Universidad de Cantabria
Chair:
Isa Baud (EADI)
Discussant:
Marleen Dekker (INCLUDE, the Knowledge Platform on Inclusive Development Policies)