# DORA (Declaration on Research Assessment)

> DORA is a global initiative working to improve how scholarly research and researchers are evaluated, moving beyond journal-based metrics like the Impact Factor toward responsible research assessment practices. Over 25,000 individuals and organizations worldwide have signed the declaration.

DORA originated at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology in San Francisco. The declaration recognizes that the Journal Impact Factor -- originally created as a tool to help librarians select journals -- is widely misused to evaluate individual scientists and their work in funding, hiring, and promotion decisions. DORA recommends evaluating research on its own merits, considering diverse outputs (datasets, software, policy contributions), and using multiple indicators rather than any single metric.

## Core Pages

- [Declaration](https://sfdora.org/read/): The full text of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment, with recommendations for funders, institutions, publishers, researchers, and metric suppliers to improve evaluation of scientific research output.
- [About DORA](https://sfdora.org/about-dora/): DORA's mission, history, governance, strategic priorities, and information about its 25,000+ signatories across all scholarly disciplines.
- [FAQ](https://sfdora.org/faq): Frequently asked questions covering why research assessment reform is needed, what responsible research assessment means, concerns with the Journal Impact Factor, and how organizations can implement better practices.

## Resources

- [Resources](https://sfdora.org/resources/): A curated collection of tools, guidance materials, reports, and position papers to support organizations in developing responsible research assessment policies and practices.
- [Case Studies](https://sfdora.org/dora-case-studies/): 22 institutional case studies from across the globe demonstrating how universities and research organizations are implementing improved assessment practices aligned with DORA principles.
- [Reformscape](https://sfdora.org/reformscape/): A searchable catalogue of over 200 criteria and standards for hiring, review, promotion, and tenure from academic institutions in more than 20 countries.