Blockchain's Impact on Enhancing Scientometric Indices Transparency and Credibility

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 M.Sc., Electrical and Telecommunication Engineering, Shahr-e Ray Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahr-e Ray, Iran

2 M.A., European Studies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

3 PhD. Student, Political Studies, Islamic Revolution University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Purpose: Blockchain technology, as an emerging paradigm in the field of information technology, has the potential to profoundly transform scientometrics and scientific evaluation. This study examines the impact of blockchain technology on enhancing the transparency and credibility of scientometric indicators.
Method: In the present study, we employed the document analysis method within the framework of transparent information systems theory to examine the capabilities of blockchain technology in enhancing scientific evaluation processes.
Findings: Blockchain has the potential to fundamentally transform the processes of recording, validating, and evaluating scientific achievements. The most significant advancement of this technology is the establishment of a decentralized and immutable infrastructure for managing scientific information. Through a distributed consensus mechanism and advanced cryptography, blockchain facilitates the accurate and immutable recording of scientific information. This feature significantly enhances transparency in recording and tracking research activities, while minimizing the potential for forgery and manipulation of information. In terms of validation, blockchain provides a novel mechanism to ensure the accuracy and integrity of scientific data. The system of tokenizing scientific achievements and decentralized registration of citations enables precise tracking of the trajectory of scientific production. This approach can help establish a more equitable reward system for researchers and mitigate discrimination in scientific evaluations. However, scalability limitations, high computational costs, energy consumption, and technical complexity remain significant obstacles to the widespread adoption of this technology.
Conclusion: Blockchain technology has the potential to enhance trust in the scientific community by establishing a transparent, equitable, and decentralized ecosystem. This innovation could lead to a significant transformation in traditional scientometric methods. It is recommended that policymakers and scientific institutions explore incremental approaches to integrating this technology into the scientific evaluation system.
 

Keywords

References

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Applied Scientometric Studies
Volume 1, Issue 3
October 2024
Pages 99-109

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