Research assessment reform and recognition and reward for open research: OR4 institutional policies and practices survey quantitative dataset

The OR4 institutional policies and practices survey was conducted in 2023 to obtain reliable evidence about current reward and recognition practice, and the effects of this practice on open research. The survey was undertaken by the Open and Responsible Researcher Reward and Recognition project (OR4), one of five projects that together make up the Open Research Programme (ORP). The ORP is a six-year national initiative to accelerate the uptake of open research (OR) practices, supported by Research England and led by the UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN). The aim of the OR4 project is to support institutions to implement effective recognition and reward for open research. 

The survey ran from June to November 2023. Representatives from 60 institutions completed the survey (59 universities, of which 19 were Russell Group, and one research institute). The survey was completed by or on behalf of a senior member of staff with responsibility for or knowledge of institutional research assessment policies and procedures, and informed about institutional activity to promote and support open research. 

Most questions were closed with options to provide more information using free text fields and by uploading documents. Respondents were encouraged to use free text fields to elaborate on responses to closed questions, and file upload options to share relevant documents, such as policies and procedures. This dataset presents quantitative results from the survey only, constituting responses to 24 questions. Identifying information and qualitative responses have been redacted in order to preserve the confidentiality of information provided by respondents.

Topics covered by the survey include:

• The current state of researcher assessment policies, procedures and practices in the institution, and activity planned or in process to undertake reform.
• The institution’s open research strategy, and any current or proposed use of open research criteria in researcher assessment frameworks.
• The institution’s requirements for resources and tools to support the effective implementation of reformed policies and procedures, and its views on the tools the OR4 project plans to develop.