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EDITORIAL RUSSIAN SCIENCE CITATION INDEX DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14420/en.2013.5.1
RSCI – The Russian Science Citation Index is a bibliographic database of scientific publications by Russian scientists developed in response to the challenges of modern times in the administration. At the same time, the RSCI is a realization of the science-metric method of the changes in the effectiveness of scientific activity. In the cycle of our editorials, we introduce our readers to the novelty of the administration of scientific activity. Following DOI (editorial in № 3, 2013), it was the RSCI’s turn. In this article, we address the topic of indices and their role in the modern scientific and research world. All the good times, when authors thought only about the scientific value and originality of their works, have passed. When meeting, scientists used to discuss the new issues that were described, what to research and which books to read or to write. However, as a «scientist», one can now only ask another «scientist» «What is your h-index?» Only people tend to be incompetent; to quote a character in a famous movie, say: «Mind your Ps and Qs!» Further, if, three years ago, the majority of scientists would respond in such a way, today, really outstanding scientists, who no longer need to measure their index and other mechanistic evaluations, can only be forgiving. Others measure and reflect in this way as well. We have replaced all the variety in evaluations (new, interesting, useful, etc.) with one measuring device that has an incomprehensible scale. Our attitude towards the phenomenon of indexing is inconsistent enough. On the one hand, fussing around has contributed nothing to science and will make nobody a scientist. But, on the other hand, it is impossible to not be modern and to not participate in the trends that are evident; because of political decisions, they cannot be dismissed. However, there is also the «third» issue, which is the benefit to researchers. As applied to the RSCI, we see the benefit in the opportunity to evaluate the requirements of our work by reviewing citations, to add the publications that are issued in journals that are not a part of the RSCI and to combine works that have been created under various last names (which is relevant to individuals who have changed names) and that are affiliated with different places of work.