Does the DHET research output subsidy model penalise high-citation publication? A case study

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dc.contributor.authorHarley, Yolande X
dc.contributor.authorHuysamen, Esmari
dc.contributor.authorHlungwani, Carlette
dc.contributor.authorDouglas, Tania
dc.date.accessioned2021-10-08T07:16:11Z
dc.date.available2021-10-08T07:16:11Z
dc.date.issued2016
dc.description.abstractAbstract South African universities are awarded annual subsidy from the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) based on their research publication output. Journal article subsidy is based on the number of research publications in DHET-approved journals as well as the proportional contribution of authors from the university. Co-authorship with other institutions reduces the subsidy received by a university, which may be a disincentive to collaboration. Inter-institutional collaboration may affect the scientific impact of resulting publications, as indicated by the number of citations received. We analysed 812 journal articles published in 2011 by authors from the University of Cape Town’s Faculty of Health Sciences to determine if there was a significant relationship between subsidy units received and (1) citation count and (2) field-weighted citation impact. We found that subsidy units had a significant inverse relationship with both citation count (r= -0.247; CI = -0.311 – -0.182; p less than 0.0001) and field-weighted citation impact (r= -0.192; CI= -0.258 – -0.125; p less than 0.0001). These findings suggest that the annual subsidy awarded to universities for research output may inadvertently penalise high-citation publication. Revision of the funding model to address this possibility would better align DHET funding allocation with the strategic plans of the South African Department of Science and Technology, the National Research Foundation and the South African Medical Research Council, and may better support publication of greater impact research.
dc.identifier.apacitationHarley, Y. X., Huysamen, E., Hlungwani, C., & Douglas, T. (2016). Does the DHET research output subsidy model penalise high-citation publication? A case study. <i>South African Journal of Science</i>, Volume 112(Number 5/6), 174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34791en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationHarley, Yolande X, Esmari Huysamen, Carlette Hlungwani, and Tania Douglas "Does the DHET research output subsidy model penalise high-citation publication? A case study." <i>South African Journal of Science</i> Volume 112, Number 5/6. (2016): 174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34791en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationHarley, Y.X., Huysamen, E., Hlungwani, C. & Douglas, T. 2016. Does the DHET research output subsidy model penalise high-citation publication? A case study. <i>South African Journal of Science.</i> Volume 112(Number 5/6):174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34791en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn0038-2353
dc.identifier.issn1996-7489
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Harley, Yolande X AU - Huysamen, Esmari AU - Hlungwani, Carlette AU - Douglas, Tania AB - Abstract South African universities are awarded annual subsidy from the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) based on their research publication output. Journal article subsidy is based on the number of research publications in DHET-approved journals as well as the proportional contribution of authors from the university. Co-authorship with other institutions reduces the subsidy received by a university, which may be a disincentive to collaboration. Inter-institutional collaboration may affect the scientific impact of resulting publications, as indicated by the number of citations received. We analysed 812 journal articles published in 2011 by authors from the University of Cape Town’s Faculty of Health Sciences to determine if there was a significant relationship between subsidy units received and (1) citation count and (2) field-weighted citation impact. We found that subsidy units had a significant inverse relationship with both citation count (r= -0.247; CI = -0.311 – -0.182; p less than 0.0001) and field-weighted citation impact (r= -0.192; CI= -0.258 – -0.125; p less than 0.0001). These findings suggest that the annual subsidy awarded to universities for research output may inadvertently penalise high-citation publication. Revision of the funding model to address this possibility would better align DHET funding allocation with the strategic plans of the South African Department of Science and Technology, the National Research Foundation and the South African Medical Research Council, and may better support publication of greater impact research. DA - 2016 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town IS - Number 5/6 J1 - South African Journal of Science LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2016 SM - 0038-2353 SM - 1996-7489 T1 - Does the DHET research output subsidy model penalise high-citation publication? A case study TI - Does the DHET research output subsidy model penalise high-citation publication? A case study UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34791 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/34791
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationHarley YX, Huysamen E, Hlungwani C, Douglas T. Does the DHET research output subsidy model penalise high-citation publication? A case study. South African Journal of Science. 2016;Volume 112(Number 5/6):174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34791.en_ZA
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.departmentHealth Sciences: Research Directorate
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciences
dc.sourceSouth African Journal of Science
dc.source.journalissueNumber 5/6
dc.source.journalvolumeVolume 112
dc.source.pagination174 - 177
dc.source.urihttps://dx.doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2016/20150352
dc.subject.otherhigher education subsidy
dc.subject.othercollaboration
dc.subject.otherimpact
dc.subject.othercitation
dc.subject.otherscientometrics
dc.titleDoes the DHET research output subsidy model penalise high-citation publication? A case study
dc.typeJournal Article
uct.type.publicationResearch
uct.type.resourceJournal Article
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