Research on developmental evaluation based on the "four abilities" model: evidence from early career researchers in China

Song Jing (), Qingzhao Ma (), Siyi Wang (), Hanliang Xu (), Tian Xu (), Xia Guo () and Zhuolin Wu ()
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Song Jing: Southwestern University of Finance and Economics
Qingzhao Ma: Southwestern University of Finance and Economics
Siyi Wang: Southwestern University of Finance and Economics
Hanliang Xu: Southwestern University of Finance and Economics
Tian Xu: Columbia University
Xia Guo: Sichuan Vocational and Technical College of Communications
Zhuolin Wu: Southwestern University of Finance and Economics

Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, 2024, vol. 58, issue 1, No 31, 704 pages

Abstract: Abstract Based on the theory of developmental evaluation, this paper develops a new development-oriented research evaluation model called "four abilities", with "basic development ability", "process development ability", "achievement ability" and "influence ability" as key dimensions, which can be applied in different situations such as recruitment, performance appraisal, promotion evaluation, tenure review, and selection of honorary academic awards. Based on the data from the Youth Fund of the Ministry of Management Science of National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) from 2014 to 2018, this paper takes the developmental evaluation of early career researchers as an example, treating the existing research output as the development goal and the "development ability" of early career researchers as the explanatory factor. Then the propensity score matching method (PSM) method is adopted to control the sample self-selection bias in the way of reverse order evaluation, so as to explain whether the guiding indicator "development ability" is conducive to the development of researchers. The results indicate that strong “process development ability” of newly recruited researchers in the first 3 years of employment period can significantly promote their future research performance, which has important implications for the current evaluative culture overemphasizing short-term output. Through the application of the “four abilities” model integrating various dimensions composed of potential, capacity, output and impact, researchers at different career stages are guided to concentrate more on long-term academic mission and to achieve better career development based on their differentiated development needs.

Keywords: Developmental evaluation; "Four abilities" model; “Development ability"; Researchers; Propensity score matching (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1007/s11135-023-01665-0

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