Abstract

The evaluation of scientific output is gaining growing weight in Italy as well as in other scientifically developed countries. In the present paper, the attention is focused on the criteria for evaluating the outputs of scientific research, with the aim of suggesting some tools for their application. A few evaluation criteria are outlined, then a typology of the objects of evaluation (publications, products, and scientific activities) is presented and some parametric indices are associated to them. The possible developments of such evaluation practices and tools are briefly discussed. The evaluation criteria, along with their implementation, are proposed for the use by the Italian scientific community.