A concept for inferring `frontier research' in grant proposals

Authors:
Marianne Hörlesberger;Ivana Roche;Dominique Besagni;Thomas Scherngell;Claire François;Pascal Cuxac;Edgar Schiebel;Michel Zitt;Dirk Holste
Affiliations:
AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Vienna, Austria 1220;CNRS, Institut de l'Information Scientifique et Technique, Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France 54519;CNRS, Institut de l'Information Scientifique et Technique, Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France 54519;AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Vienna, Austria 1220;CNRS, Institut de l'Information Scientifique et Technique, Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France 54519;CNRS, Institut de l'Information Scientifique et Technique, Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France 54519;AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Vienna, Austria 1220;INRA, Nantes, France 44316 and Observatoire des Sciences et des Techniques (OST), Paris, France 75006;AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Vienna, Austria 1220
Venue:
Scientometrics
Year:
2013

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Abstract

This paper discusses a concept for inferring attributes of `frontier research' in peer-reviewed research proposals under the popular scheme of the European Research Council (ERC). The concept serves two purposes: firstly to conceptualize, define and operationalize in scientometric terms attributes of frontier research; and secondly to build and compare outcomes of a statistical model with the review decision in order to obtain further insight and reflect upon the influence of frontier research in the peer-review process. To this end, indicators across scientific disciplines and in accord with the strategic definition of frontier research by the ERC are elaborated, exploiting textual proposal information and other scientometric data of grant applicants. Subsequently, a suitable model is formulated to measure ex-post the influence of attributes of frontier research on the decision probability of a proposal to be accepted. We present first empirical data as proof of concept for inferring frontier research in grant proposals. Ultimately the concept is aiming at advancing the methodology to deliver signals for monitoring the effectiveness of peer-review processes.