RPDC (HERDC) and ERA

Definition

To be included in this category, the publication must meet the definition of research and must meet the Evidence of Excellence criteria below. 

The types of books that may meet the criteria include:

• critical scholarly texts (e.g. music, medieval or classical texts)
• new interpretations of historical events
• new ideas or perspectives based on established research findings
• freely available research-related reports published by external institutes or public agencies and departments.

The types of books that do not meet the criteria include:

• textbooks (possibly A2 / A2Ext)
• anthologies (possibly A2 / A2Ext)
• edited books (possibly A4 / A4Ext)
• creative works such as novels (possibly J3 / J3Ext)
• translations (unless they have a major demonstrable original research component) (possibly A2 / A2Ext)
• revisions or new editions (unless they constitute substantial new knowledge and constitutes original research) (possibly A3 / A3Ext)
• manuals and handbooks (possibly A2 / A2Ext)
• theses (PhD, Masters and Honours) (possibly T1 / T1Ext).

Evidence of Excellence

Evidence of excellence includes:

• must be a major work of scholarship
• mainly previously unpublished material, making a substantial contribution to knowledge
• must have an ISBN
• must be offered for sale
• must be written entirely by a single author, or by joint authors who share responsibility for the whole book
• must have been published by a commercial publisher, or if not published by a commercial publisher, must have been peer reviewed.

Evidence of Peer Review

An acceptable peer review process is one that involves impartial and independent assessment or review of the research publication in its entirety before publication, conducted by independent, qualified experts. Independent in this context means independent of the author.

For books that are not published by a commercial publisher any of the following are acceptable as evidence of peer review:

• a statement in the book which shows that contributions are peer reviewed
• a statement or acknowledgement from the publisher or editor which shows that contributions are peer reviewed
• a copy of a reviewer’s assessment relating to the book.

Standard Output

Not applicable.

Major Output

Authored books are a weighted publication category.  All authored books in the A1 category are weighted 5:1 compared with the other research publication categories.

Verification Material

Verification material that must be provided includes:

• proof that the book was published by a commercial publisher or of peer review
• contents, preface and introduction, and pages showing all bibliographic information (ISBN, title, authors, publisher, all dates referring to copyright, publication, printing, distribution).

Definition

A book authored in its entirety by the author or authors, but does not meet the criteria for a scholarly research book.

The types of books that may meet this criteria include:

• textbooks
• guidelines
• booklets
• manuals
• reprints of previously published books
• books not published by a commercial publisher or peer reviewed
• books that do not meet the definition of research, and are not revised or new editions

The types of books that do not meet the criteria include:

• edited books (possibly A4 / A4Ext)
• creative published books (possibly J3 / J3Ext)
• working papers, technical reports, discussion papers (possibly O1)
• reports (possibly K1 / K1Ext / K1n)
• revisions or new editions that do not involve substantial new research (possibly A3 / A3Ext)

Verification Material

Verification material that must be provided includes:

• proof that the book was published
• contents, preface and introduction, and pages showing all bibliographic information (ISBN, title, authors, publisher, all dates referring to copyright, publication, printing, distribution).

Definition

This category is used for revised editions or new editions of authored books.  The book must have been previously published by either the current author or some previous author. 

The types of books that may meet this criteria include:

• new editions that do not involve substantial additions or revisions
• revisions that do not involve substantial additions or revisions
• updates to previous editions that do not involve substantial additions or revisions

The types of books that may not meet the criteria include:

• revised editions that have subtantially new research (possibly A1 / A1Ext)

Verification Material

Verification material that must be provided includes:

• proof that the book was published
• contents, preface and introduction, and pages showing all bibliographic information of the new edition (ISBN, title, authors, publisher, all dates referring to copyright, publication, printing, distribution)
• table of contents from both new edition and previous edition.

Definition

This category is used for editors of a book consisting of contributions from a number of authors.

The types of books that do not meet the criteria include:

• edited journal issues (possibly C4)
• edited conference proceedings (possibly E4)

Verification Material

Verification material that must be provided includes:

• proof that the book was published
• contents, preface and introduction, and pages showing all bibliographic information of the new edition (ISBN, title, authors, publisher, all dates referring to copyright, publication, printing, distribution)
• table of contents

Definition

This category refers to a contribution consisting of substantially new material, to an edited compilation in which the material is subject to editorial scrutiny.  To be included in this category, the publication must meet the definition of research and must meet the Evidence of Excellence criteria below.

The types of book chapters that may meet the criteria include:

• a scholarly introduction of chapter length to an edited volume, where the content of the introduction reports research and makes a substantial contribution to a defined area of knowledge
• a critical scholarly text of chapter length, e.g. in music, medieval or classical texts
• critical reviews of current research.

Unless they meet all of the criteria for inclusion, the following book chapters must be excluded:

• chapters in textbooks (possibly B2 / B2Ext)
• entries in reference books (possibly D1 / D1Ext)
• anthologies (possibly B2 / B2Ext)
• revisions of chapters in edited books (unless they constitute substantial new knowledge and constitutes original research) (possibly B3 / B3Ext)
• forewords (possibly B2 / B2Ext)
• brief introductions (possibly B2 / B2Ext)
• brief editorials (possibly B2 / B2Ext)
• appendices (possibly B2 / B2Ext)
• literary or creative pieces such as collections of short stories (possibly J3 / J3Ext)
• translations (unless they have a major demonstrable original research component) (possibly B2 / B2Ext)
• case studies (possibly B2 / B2Ext)
• encyclopaedia entries (possibly  D1 / D1Ext).

Evidence of Excellence

Evidence of excellence includes:

• must be a major work of scholarship
• must have an International Standard Book Number (ISBN)
• must have been published by a commercial publisher, or if not published by a commercial publisher, must have been peer reviewed.

Evidence of Peer Review

An acceptable peer review process is one that involves impartial and independent assessment or review of the research publication in its entirety before publication, conducted by independent, qualified experts. Independent in this context means independent of the author.

For books that are not published by a commercial publisher any of the following are acceptable as evidence of peer review:

• a statement in the book which shows that contributions are peer reviewed and in the case of book chapters, which indicates which chapters are peer reviewed, if this does not apply to all content
• a statement or acknowledgement from the publisher or editor which shows that contributions are peer reviewed
• a copy of a reviewer’s assessment relating to the book chapter

Standard Output

Book chapters (research) are standard outputs.

Major Output

Not applicable.

Verification Material

Verification material that must be able to be provided for government reporting upon request includes:

• the chapter
• contents, preface and introduction and pages showing all bibliographic information (ISBN, title, editor, authors, publisher, all dates referring to copyright, publication, printing, distribution)
• if new chapter in revised edition, include also contents of previous edition if preface does not indicate that chapter is new
• proof that the book was published by a commercial publisher or of peer review.

Definition

This category refers to a contribution consisting of substantially new material, to an edited compilation in which the material is subject to editorial scrutiny, but does not meet the criteria for a scholarly book chapter.

The types of book chapters that may meet the criteria include:

• chapters in textbooks
• anthologies
• forewards
• brief introductions
• brief editorials
• appendices
• translations (unless they have a major demonstrable original research component) 
• case studies
• scholarly chapters in books not published by a commercial publisher and not peer reviewed
• chapters in a report or government department publication that are not published by a commercial publisher and which appear in book format rather than report format

Unless they meet all of the criteria for inclusion, the following book chapters do not meet the criteria:

• entries in reference books (possibly D1 / D1Ext)
• revisions of chapters in edited books (unless they constitute substantial new knowledge and constitutes original research) (possibly B3 / B3Ext)
• literary or creative pieces such as collections of short stories (possibly J3 / J3Ext)
• encyclopedia entries (possibly D1 / D1Ext).

Verification Material

Verification material that must be provided includes:

• the chapter
• contents, preface and introduction and pages showing all bibliographic information (ISBN, title, editor, authors, publisher, all dates referring to copyright, publication, printing, distribution)
• if new chapter in revised edition, include also contents of previous edition if preface does not indicate that chapter is new

Definition

This category is for use for revised editions or new editions of chapters in an edited book.  The book must have been previously published by either the current editors or some previous editor. 

The types of book chapters that may meet this criteria include:

• new editions that do not involve substantial additions or revisions
• revisions that do not involve substantial additions or revisions
• updates to previous editions that do not involve substantial additions or revisions

The types of book chapters that do not meet the criteria include:

• revised editions that have substantially new research (possibly B1 / B1Ext)

Verification Material

Verification material that must be provided includes:

• the chapter
• contents, preface and introduction and pages showing all bibliographic information (ISBN, title, editor, authors, publisher, all dates referring to copyright, publication, printing, distribution)
• if new chapter in revised edition, include also contents of previous edition if preface does not indicate that chapter is new

Definition

To be included in this category, the publication must meet the definition of research and must meet the Evidence of Excellence criteria below.

The types of journal articles that may meet the criteria include:

• commentaries and communications of original research
• research notes
• letters to journals, provided that the letter satisfies the definition of research and the requirements for journal articles in this section
• critical scholarly texts which appear in article form
• articles reviewing multiple works or an entire field of research
• invited papers in journals
• articles in journals which are targeted to both scholars and professionals
• articles in a stand-alone series.

The types of journal articles that do not meet the criteria include:

• letters to the editor (possibly C3 / C3Ext)
• case studies (possibly C2 / C3 / C3Ext / C2Ext )
• articles designed to inform practitioners on existing knowledge in a professional field (possibly C2 / C3 / C2Ext / C3Ext)
• articles in newspapers and popular magazines (possibly C3 / C3Ext / N1 / N1Ext)
• editorials (possibly C3 / C3Ext)
• book reviews (possibly C3 / C3Ext)
• brief commentaries and communications of original research (possibly C2 / C3 / C2Ext / C3Ext)
• reviews of art exhibitions, concerts, theatre productions (possibly C3 / J3 / C3Ext / J3Ext).

Evidence of Excellence

Evidence of excellence includes:

• must be published in a scholarly journal
• must have been peer reviewed
• must have an ISSN (Note: Some journals may be regularly published as separate volumes with an ISBN rather than an ISSN. Provided that the publication is clearly identified as an edition of a journal, and not a book, articles in such publications may be eligible if they meet all other criteria)

Evidence of Peer Review

An acceptable peer review process is one that involves an assessment or review, before publication, of the research output in its entirety by independent, qualified experts.

The term 'independent' in this context means independent of the author.  A statement from an author that a research output was peer reviewed is not sufficient evidence.

For journal articles, the following are acceptable as evidence for peer review:

• listing on the ARC's Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) latest available journal list
• classification as 'refereed' in the Ulrich's Knowledgebase
• listing in Thomson Reuters Web of Knowledge Master Journal list
• a statement in the journal which shows that contributions are peer reviewed
• a statement or acknowledgement from the journal editor which shows that contributions are peer reviewed
• a copy of a reviewer's assessment relating to the article.

Standard Output

Journal articles (research) are a standard output type.

Major Output

Not applicable

Verification Material

Verification material that must be able to be provided for government reporting upon request includes:

• the article
• pages showing all bibliographic information (journal title, ISSN, dates where not provided in the article or offprint)
• proof of peer review

Definition

This category incudes journal articles in scholarly refereed publications that are not refereed.

The types of journal articles that may meet the criteria include:

• non-refereed journal articles
• case studies that are not refereed
• invited commentaries that are not refereed
• articles designed to inform practitioners on existing knowledge in a professional field
• brief commentaries and communications of original research

The types of journal articles that may not meet the criteria include:

• book reviews (possibly C3 / C3Ext)
• editorials (possibly C3 / C3Ext)
• letters (possibly C3 / C3Ext)

Verification Material

Verification material that must be provided includes:

• the article
• pages showing all bibliographic information (journal title, ISSN, dates where not provided in the article or offprint)

Definition

This category may includes:

• letters to the editor
• book reviews
• editorials that do not meet the eligibility criteria for C1 journal articles
• refereed non-scholarly articles
• articles in journals without an ISSN
• short contributions (less than a page long)

Types of articles that may not be included are:

• articles in newspapers and newsletters (possibly N1 / N1Ext)

Verification Material

Verification material that must be provided includes:

• the article
• pages showing all bibliographic information (journal title, ISSN, dates where not provided in the article or offprint)

Definition

This category includes where the author is responsible for editing a complete journal issue.

Verification Material

Verification material that must be provided includes:

• pages showing all bibliographic information (journal title, ISSN, dates where not provided in the article or offprint)
• page showing editorials credit

Definition

To be included in this category, the publication must meet the definition of research and must meet the Evidence of Excellence criteria below.

To be eligible, a conference paper must have been:

• presented at a conference, workshop or seminar of national or international significance
• peer reviewed
• published in full (the publication may appear in a number of different formats, e.g. a volume of proceedings, a special edition of a journal, a normal issue of a journal, a book, digitally on the conference or organisational website).

The types of conference publications that do not meet the criteria include:

• papers that appear only in a volume handed out to conference participants (possibly E2 / E2Ext)
• keynote addresses (possibly E5 / E5Ext)
• plenary addresses (possibly E5 / E5Ext)
• poster presentations (possibly E5 / E5Ext)
• abstracts of conference publications (possibly E3 / E3Ext).

Evidence of Excellence

Evidence of excellence would include:

• be published in full. The papers may appear in any format, e.g. a volume of proceedings, a special edition of a journal, a normal issue of a journal, a book or a monograph, CD or conference or organisational web site

• be peer reviewed

• be presented at conferences, workshops or seminars of national or international significance

Evidence of Peer Review

An acceptable peer review process is one that involves an assessment or review, before publication, of the research output in its entirety by independent, qualified experts.

The term 'independent' in this context means independent of the author.  A statement from an author that a research output was peer reviewed is not sufficient evidence.

For conference papers, the following are acceptable as evidence for peer review:

• a statement in the conference proceedings which shows that contributions are peer reviewed

• a statement or acknowledgement from the conference proceedings editor which shows that contributions are peer reviewed

• a copy of a reviewer’s assessment relating to the conference paper.

Standard Output

Conference papers are a standard output type.

Major Output

Not applicable.

Verification Material

Verification material that must be able to be provided for government reporting upon request includes:

• the full paper
• contents, preface and introduction and pages showing all relevant bibliographic information (ISBN, title, editor, authors, publisher, dates)
• proof of peer review
• proof that the conference is of national or international significance

Definition

This category includes papers that were delivered at a conference and may have been:

• full conference papers where no refereeing process was employed
• full conference papers that where not refereed in full (only the abstract may have been refereed)
• full conference papers that were not published in the proceedings (but may have been refereed)
• full conference papers that were not in publicly available proceedings (i.e. proceedings only available to delegates or on a restricted website)
• full conference papers where the conference is of local or state significance

The conference may be of local, state, national or international significance.

Verification Material

Verification material that must be able to be provided for government reporting upon request includes:

• the full paper
• contents, preface and introduction and pages showing all relevant bibliographic information (ISBN, title, editor, authors, publisher, dates)
• proof of peer review (if applicable)

Definition

Conference abstracts that have been published in the conference proceedings.  The abstract may or may not have been assessed by a formal peer review process. 

The conference may be of local, state, national or international significance.

Verification Material

Verification material that must be able to be provided for government reporting upon request includes:

• the abstract
• contents, preface and introduction and pages showing all relevant bibliographic information (ISBN, title, editor, authors, publisher, dates)
• proof of peer review (if applicable)

Definition

Where the author is an editor of a published conference proceedings.  The papers within the proceedings may or may not have been assessed by a formal peer review process. 

The conference may be of local, state, national or international significance.

Verification Material

Verification material that must be provided includes:

• pages showing all relevant bibliographic information (ISBN, title, editor, authors, publisher, dates)
• page showing editorials credit

Definition

Conference items not meeting other criteria, and may include:

• presentations
• keynote presentations
• posters
• workshops. 

These conference items may or may not have been assessed by a formal peer review process, and may or may not have been published in the conference proceedings. 

The conference may be of local, state, national or international significance.

Verification Material

Verification material that must be able to be provided for government reporting upon request includes:

• the presentation, abstract or paper
• contents, preface and introduction and pages showing all relevant bibliographic information (ISBN, title, editor, authors, publisher, dates)
• proof of peer review (if applicable)

Definition

This category is used to claim for research contributions to publications such as a dictionary or encyclopaedia.

The types of reference works that may be include are:

• entire reference works written solely by the author/s
• single author/s contribution to an edited reference work
• series of contributions to different sections of an edited reference work
• revisions/editions of previously published reference works

Verification Material

Verification material that must be provided includes:

• the chapter (if a book section)
• contents, preface and introduction and pages showing all bibliographic information (ISBN, title, editor, authors, publisher, all dates referring to copyright, publication, printing, distribution)
• table of contents showing all chapters/sections and page numbers
• if new chapter in revised edition, include also contents of previous edition if preface does not indicate that chapter is new
• proof that the book was published by a commercial publisher or of peer review.

Definition

This category includes audiovisual outputs including:

• documentaries
• non-creative works.

Outputs that may not meet this definition include:

• audiovisual that are considered a creative work (possibly J9 / J9Ext)

Definition

This category refers to full patents (or equivalent) on specific products or processes granted for the first time, either in Australia or in an overseas country. 

This types of outputs that may meet this criteria include:

• plant breeder rights
• a product or process for which a full patent has been granted
• provisional patents

The types of outputs that may not meet this criteria include:

• applications for which no determination has been made on patent rights
• multiple rights for the same product or process

Definition

This category refers to innovative software products of commercial quality and offered for sale or distributed as Shareware through a recognised publisher or distributor.

Definition

This category may include:

• Newsletters or newsletter sections where it is written in full by the author/s
• Newspaper article where the article is written in full by the author/s

Definition

This category includes:

• working papers
• unpublished works
• project summaries
• discussion papers
• seminars
• blogs
• commentaries

Definition

All externally authored publications, published by USC