What is the Leiden Manifesto?

The Leiden Manifesto for research metrics is a set of ten principles for using quantitative research metrics responsibly — to support, not replace, expert judgement.

The Leiden Manifesto for research metrics, published in Nature in 2015, is a set of ten principles for the responsible use of quantitative indicators in research assessment. Its core idea is that metrics should inform, not replace, expert judgement.

Among its principles: quantitative evaluation should support qualitative, expert assessment; measure performance against the mission of the group; account for differences between fields; keep data collection and analysis transparent; and recognise that indicators can be gamed and have systemic effects.

Why it matters for your CV

Like DORA, the Leiden Manifesto encourages reading metrics in context and not reducing a researcher to a single number. If you present metrics on a CV, choose field-normalized indicators, give context, and let your actual contributions lead.

Read: using metrics responsibly

Frequently asked questions

How is the Leiden Manifesto different from DORA?

Both promote responsible research assessment. DORA focuses on not misusing journal-based metrics (like the Impact Factor) for individual assessment; the Leiden Manifesto gives ten broader principles for using any quantitative metric responsibly alongside expert judgement.

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