La medición de la ciencia y sus cuestionamientos

Abstract

Math is an exact science which could be considered neutral as a work tool, however it is not neutral when it is applied in everyday life through the measuring and counting processes. The expression of mathematical values involves the expression of judgements which could become themselves social and political questionings. We measure who is richer or poorer, who is intelligent, superior or inferior in relation to others. Firms measure the health of management functions by establishing control tools and mathematical indicators. The same happens with institutions or countries. Such is the case with the establishment of indicators to measure the degree of development reached by the different countries in the science fields, for which international organisms have fostered the creation of a new common methodology with the purpose of making these resources internationally comparable. These indicators are based on the level existing in the most economically, scientifically and technologically developed countries. The countries' heterogeneity and the lack of an international interest have led to unreliable data which are not comparable and have not been updated, however, the purpose to record world statistics and learn the degree of development reached in different countries has not lost importance. In the 60's the science fields experienced a strong tendency to apply quantification techniques. In 1961 the first citation index, known as the Citation Index of Genetics, was published, a predecessor of the Citation Indexes used nowadays in different scientific fields. Latin American scientists work in very important topics for our particular conditions but are nevertheless not taken into account by these indicators. That is why the use of these sources to evaluate science and scientists in underdeveloped countries is questionable. In consequence, underdeveloped countries face problems to measure their science, scientists and results so it is important to look for reliable, comparable and updated indicators which respond to our different social and economic realities. We should work in the application of Output Indicators of a multidimensional character, which will provide firm bases for the decision making in the resource allocation and strategic planning for science and technology in the region.