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  4. Impact of classification granularity on interdisciplinary performance assessment of research institutes and organizations
 
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2025
Journal Article
Title

Impact of classification granularity on interdisciplinary performance assessment of research institutes and organizations

Abstract
Purpose: Interdisciplinary research has become a critical approach to addressing complex societal, economic, technological, and environmental challenges, driving innovation and integrating scientific knowledge. While interdisciplinarity indicators are widely used to evaluate research performance, the impact of classification granularity on these assessments remains underexplored.
Design/methodology/approach: This study investigates how different levels of classification granularity - macro, meso, and micro - affect the evaluation of interdisciplinarity in research institutes. Using a dataset of 262 institutes from four major German non-university organizations (FHG, HGF, MPG, WGL) from 2018 to 2022, we examine inconsistencies in interdisciplinarity across levels, analyze ranking changes, and explore the influence of institutional fields and research focus (applied vs. basic).
Findings: Our findings reveal significant inconsistencies in interdisciplinarity across classification levels, with rankings varying substantially. Notably, the Fraunhofer Society (FHG), which performs well at the macro level, experiences significant ranking declines at meso and micro levels. Normalizing interdisciplinarity by research field confirmed that these declines persist. The research focus of institutes, whether applied, basic, or mixed, does not significantly explain the observed ranking dynamics.
Research limitations: This study has only considered the publication-based dimension of institutional interdisciplinarity and has not explored other aspects. Practical implications: The findings provide insights for policymakers, research managers, and scholars to better interpret interdisciplinarity metrics and support interdisciplinary research effectively.
Originality/value: This study underscores the critical role of classification granularity in interdisciplinarity assessment and emphasizes the need for standardized approaches to ensure robust and fair evaluations.
Author(s)
Zhang, Jiandong
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Science Library
Gruber, Sonia  orcid-logo
Fraunhofer-Institut für System- und Innovationsforschung ISI  
Frietsch, Rainer  
Fraunhofer-Institut für System- und Innovationsforschung ISI  
Journal
Journal of data and information science : JDIS  
Open Access
DOI
10.2478/jdis-2025-0028
10.24406/publica-4581
File(s)
Zhang et al_2025.Impact of classification granularity on interdisciplinary performance assessment of research institutes and organizations.pdf (1.23 MB)
Rights
CC BY 4.0: Creative Commons Attribution
Language
English
Fraunhofer-Institut für System- und Innovationsforschung ISI  
Keyword(s)
  • Interdisciplinarity

  • Paper-level classification system

  • Organization evaluation

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