Criteria for inclusion in HERDC
For publications to be included in the HERDC collection they must:
- Meet the definition of research
- Only be counted once by each Higher Education Provider (HEP) e.g. if a conference paper is published in conference proceedings and is subsequently included as a journal article, it can be counted as an article or as a conference paper but not both
The definition of research
Research is defined as the creation of new knowledge and/or the use of existing knowledge in a new and creative way so as to generate new concepts, methodologies and understandings. This could include synthesis and analysis of previous research to the extent that it leads to new and creative outcomes.
This definition of research is consistent with a broad notion of research and experimental development (R&D) as comprising of creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of humanity, culture and society, and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise new applications.
This definition of research encompasses pure and strategic basic research, applied research and experimental development. Applied research is original investigation undertaken to acquire new knowledge but directed towards a specific, practical aim or objective (including a client-driven purpose).
and
Possess the characteristics of a research publication
- scholarly activity, as evidenced by discussion of the relevant literature, an awareness of the history and antecedents of work described, and a format which allows a reader to trace sources of the work through citations, footnotes etc;
- originality, that is, it is not a compilation of existing works;
- veracity/validity through a peer review processes or commercial publisher process;
- increasing the stock of knowledge; and
- being in a form that enables dissemination of knowledge
Other critieria
As well as the above criteria there are other general criteria that must be met. This includes: