Research glossary
Discover the meanings of key research terms. Tell us any research terms you're unaware of.
A
Altmetrics
Also known as alternative metrics, altmetrics are indicators that track the attention scholarly research receives online, they measure how research is shared, discussed and used over various online platforms. Altmetrics offer a more immediate view of research impact.
Article Processing Charge (APC)
An APC is a fee publishers charge for making an article freely available online, typically when publishing in an Open Access (OA) or hybrid journal. It's a common way to fund Open Access publishing, allowing immediate and permanent access to the published version of record.
Author Accepted Manuscript (AAM)
AAM is the final version of a research paper that an author submits after peer review and acceptance by a journal, but before any typesetting or formatting by the publisher. It represents the author's version of the article after all revisions, but it does not include the publisher's typesetting, copyediting, or final layout.
B
Bibliometrics
The quantitative study of research publications, using statistical methods to analyse patterns and trends in scholarly literature. It involves analysing various aspects of published works, such as citations, downloads, and other quantitative data, to understand research impact and publication trends.
Book Publishing Charge (BPC)
A BPC is a fee paid to a publisher to cover the costs of publishing a book on an Open Access (OA) basis, making it freely available to readers. BPCs are a common funding model for Open Access book publishing. Book chapter charges are sometimes called a Chapter Publishing Charge (CPC).
C
Creative Commons (Licence)
A Creative Commons (CC) licence is a public copyright licence that allows creators to share their work with the public while specifying how others can use it. CC licences aim to enable sharing, reuse and remixing of content while protecting the creator's rights.
D
Data
Research data are the evidence which underpin the answer to the research question. Data comes in a diversity of forms and can be used to validate research findings.
Data Management Plan (DMP)
A Data Management Plan (DMP) is a living document which outlines how research data will be managed during and after a research project.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
A unique identifier for digital objects, most commonly used for academic publications and research data, ensuring a specific piece of content can be consistently and accurately referenced, even if its location online changes.
DORA / Responsible Research Assessment
A declaration that outlines recommendations for improving research assessment practices. The core principle is to move away from using journal based-metrics such as the journal impact factor as a primary indicator of research quality. DORA promotes a nuanced approach to assessing research based on its own merits, considering the value and impact of all research outputs, and using peer review and expert judgment.
E
Early Career Researcher (ECR)
An individual who is within a few years of completing their PhD or equivalent and is either in a temporary research position or has recently transitioned into a permanent academic role. The exact timeframe and criteria can vary, but it generally encompasses those navigating the initial stages of establishing their research careers, including postdoctoral researchers, research fellows, and those in early faculty appointments.
Embargo
A restriction placed on a research output which allows only basic metadata such as the title, abstract and citation information to be released to the public.
Ethics
Ethics refer to a set of guiding principles to which individuals adhere with the common four being: autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice. In a research context, those designing, developing and delivering research have a responsibility to adhere to their institutional ethics principles (outlined at Salford in the Academic Ethics Policy) as well as disciplinary expectations, acting with due consideration for promoting and ensuring the wellbeing of the public, research participants, end users of research and the wider environment.
F
FAIR Data Principles
The FAIR Data Principles, first set out in 2016, focus on enhancing the usability of research data. By adhering to FAIR principles, researchers and organisations can ensure their data is well-described, easily discoverable and accessible, and ready for reuse in various contexts.
Figshare
A digital repository platform used by researchers to store, manage and share outputs such as data, software and other research materials. Figshare supports compliance with open access policies and research data management requirements, promoting the visibility and reuse of outputs.
I
Impact Factor
A metric that reflects the average number of citations to articles published in a specific journal within a particular period, typically two years.
M
Methodology
Refers to the overall approach and set of methods used to conduct a study. It explains how the research was designed, carried out, and how data was collected and analysed to answer the research question.
Monograph
A scholarly book or long-form publication that focuses on a single, in-depth study of a specific subject or topic, often written by a single author. It presents original research and analysis, distinguishing it from textbooks that compile existing knowledge or edited collections of essays.
Moratorium
A moratorium refers to a temporary embargo on access. It may apply to a research output where immediate sharing could pose ethical, legal or societal risks.
O
Open Access (Green, Gold, Diamond)
Open Access refers to making scholarly research available online, free of charge and with minimal restrictions on reuse. There are primarily three routes to achieving Open Access: Green, Gold, and Diamond.
- Green Open Access involves self-archiving, where authors deposit their work (often the accepted manuscript version) in a repository, such as an institutional or subject-based repository.
- Gold Open Access refers to publishing in a fully open access journal making articles immediately available to readers upon publication, typically funded by Article Processing Charges (APCs) paid by the author or their institution.
- Diamond Open Access is similar to Gold OA but without APCs or other fees for authors to publish. Diamond OA is often supported by institutions, funders, societies, or other organisations.
Open Data
Research data that is freely available for anyone to access, use, modify, and share, with minimal restrictions.
Open Research
An approach to conducting research which prioritises transparency, accessibility and collaboration. It involves sharing research outputs, including processes, data, methods, software, and results, openly online, often under permissive licences. Open research supports reproducibility and equitable access to knowledge.
ORCID
Open Researcher and Contributor ID, is a unique, persistent, digital identifier for researchers and scholars. It helps to differentiate researchers with similar names and ensures they receive accurate credit for their work.
P
Peer-review
A process where experts from a specific field or discipline evaluate the quality of a peer's research to assess the rigour, validity, quality and often the originality of articles for publication.
Persistent Identifiers
Persistent identifiers (PIDs) are unique, long-lasting references used to identify digital objects, people, or other entities, ensuring they remain identifiable even if their names or online locations change. Examples include a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) and Open Research and Contributor ID (ORCID).
Plagiarism
Presenting someone else's work or ideas as your own, without proper acknowledgment. This can involve using someone else's words, ideas, data, or even creative output without giving credit to the original author.
Predatory / Hijacked Journal
Predatory journals are fraudulent publications that exploit the open-access model by charging authors fees without providing proper peer review or editorial services. Hijacked journals, on the other hand, are counterfeit websites that mimic legitimate journals, often using the same name and ISSN, to solicit submissions and collect fees from authors.
Preprint
A complete version of a scholarly or scientific article that has been made publicly available but has not yet been formally published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Preregistration
The practice of documenting and publicly sharing a research plan including, hypotheses, methods, and analysis plan, before any data collection begins. Preregistering a study helps to enhance transparency and reduces bias.
R
Registered Report
A type of academic publication where the study's methodology and proposed analysis are peer-reviewed and provisionally accepted before data collection begins. This approach aims to reduce publication bias and promote transparency by focusing on the quality of research design and execution, rather than solely on the results.
Research
The University adheres to the Frascati definition of research. Creative and systematic work undertaken to increase the stock of knowledge - including knowledge of humanity, culture and society - and to devise new applications of available knowledge. This includes basic and applied research, as well as experimental development.
Research Culture
Encompasses the behaviours, values, expectations, attitudes and norms of our research communities. It influences researchers' career paths and determines the way that research is conducted and communicated.
Research Data Management (RDM)
The practice of managing research data throughout its lifecycle, from planning and collection to storage, sharing, and preservation. It aims to ensure data is well-organised, secure, accessible, and reusable, while also adhering to legal, ethical, and funder requirements.
Research Excellence Framework (REF)
A system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The REF evaluates research across various disciplines, judging its quality based on outputs, impact, and research environment. The results inform the allocation of public funding for research at UK universities.
Research Governance
The formal framework of policies, procedures and monitoring that ensures research is conducted ethically, legally, and with integrity. It supports accountability and promotes high standards throughout the research process.
Research Integrity
All the factors that underpin good research practice and promote trust and confidence in the research process. It includes practices such as ethics review, accurate reporting, and responsible research data management.
Rights Retention
A scholarly publishing approach that allows authors to retain key rights over their work, rather than transferring them entirely to the publisher. This is usually achieved by making the author accepted manuscript (AAM) available through an institutional repository, without publisher restrictions.
S
Secondary Data
Data that has been collected by someone else, for a different purpose than the current research project. It is pre-existing data that is being reused for a new analysis.
Sensitive Data
Refers to information that, if disclosed, could cause harm, distress, or legal repercussions to individuals or organisations. Sensitive data requires special handling and protection due to its potential impact if compromised. Data can be sensitive due to ethical, commercial or legal reasons.
Systematic Review
A type of literature review that uses a rigorous, transparent, and reproducible method to identify, select, and synthesise all available evidence on a specific research question. Systematic reviews follow a pre-defined protocol, include a comprehensive search strategy, and critically appraise the quality of included studies.
T
Transformative Agreement
A type of contract between institutions such as, universities and publishers that aims to shift the focus of scholarly publishing from a subscription-based model to one where research outputs are openly available. Sometimes referred to as a ‘read and publish agreement’ or a 'transitional agreement'.
U
USIR (University of Salford Institutional Repository)
A digital archive that stores and provides open access to research outputs produced by University of Salford staff and postgraduate researchers. USIR supports the long-term preservation and discoverability of scholarly work, including journal articles, datasets, conference papers, theses, and other research materials.
V
Viva
An oral examination used to assess a research degree candidate's thesis. The student answers questions about their research and methodology in front of a panel of examiners. The viva helps examiners gauge the student's understanding of their work and their ability to engage in academic discussion.
Version of Record (VoR)
The final, published version of a scholarly article, including any revisions, typesetting, and formatting applied by the publisher after peer review. The VoR is the definitive, citable version that appears in a journal, either online or in print.
W
Worktribe
The University of Salford's research information management system used by staff and postgraduate researchers. Worktribe serves as the platform for depositing research outputs and theses into USIR, as well as creating academic profiles. It also acts as a central system for research management, encompassing pre- and post-award activities.
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