Research Excellence Framework (REF)

REF Outputs (e.g. Publications)

Guidance on research outputs is available in Part 3, Section 2 of Guidance on Submission with addendum (PDF, 940 KB), and assessment criteria for outputs is available in Section 2 of each of the main panel criteria statements (Part 2 of the Panel Criteria and Working Methods (PDF, 505 KB).

Research outputs (section REF2) count for 65% of the overall quality rating and will include up to 4 research outputs produced within the publication period (1 January2008* - 31 July 2013) by each member of staff submitted. In all UOAs, individuals may be returned with fewer than 4 outputs without penalty in the assessment where their individual circumstances have significantly constrained their ability to produce 4 outputs or work productively throughout the assessment period.

* Allowances can be made for outputs 'pre-published' before 1 January 2008, i.e. 'online first', working papers, etc. published in 2007 but not submitted to RAE2008. Please see para. 43-44 of the Panel Criteria and Working Methods for details.

Criteria and definitions of starred levels

The criteria for assessing the quality of outputs are ‘originality, significance and rigour’ based on starred ratings of 1*-4* and unclassified.
The interpretation of the generic quality, as defined in Annex A of the Guidance on Submission with addendum (PDF, 940 KB), are Panel specific and can be found in each Panel's Section B2 in the Panel Criteria and Working Methods (PDF, 505 KB), along with other assessment criteria.

The interpretation of generic level definitions for Panels B, C and D are:

Panel B output criteria (PDF, 97 KB)
Panel C output criteria (PDF, 96 KB)
Panel D output criteria (PDF, 95 KB)

Citations

Some panels will consider citation data but will continue to rely on expert review as the primary means of assessing outputs. Specific Panel criteria is available in each Panel's Section B2 in the Panel Criteria and Working Methods (PDF, 505 KB) under 'Assessment criteria: Outputs: Citation data'.

REF Units of Assessment (PDF, 60 KB) shows the configuration of the grouping of sub-panels under main panels.

Panel A: Will make use of citation data.

Panel B: Sub-panels 7-9 and 11 will make use of citation data. All other sub-panels do not intend to make use of citation data or any other form of bibliometric analysis, including journal impact factors.

Panel C: Only sub-panel 18 will make use of citation data.

Panel D: Will not make use of citation or any other form of bibliometric data.