Quality and efficiency of basic research in molecular biology: a bibliometric analysis of thirteen excellent research institutes

Abstract We try to assess, in a systematic and objective manner, the research performance of 13 research institutes active in the field of molecular biology. For this purpose we have counted the number of scientific publications and the number of citations received during a five-year period (1980–1984). We use citations per publication as an indicator of quality and costs per citation as an indicator of efficiency of research. Peer review seems to discourage uninteresting, i.e. not cited, research. Grant systems seem to work more efficiently than funding on a permanent institutional basis.

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