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Annex C: Glossary of terms used
Basic and applied research
The commonly-used definitions of research derive from the Frascati Manual which sets out the methodology for collecting statistics about research and development. The Manual is published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
The key definitions are
- Basic research is experimental or theoretical work undertaken primarily to acquire new knowledge of the underlying foundation of phenomena and observable facts, without any particular application or use in view.
- Applied research is also original investigation undertaken in order to acquire new knowledge. It is, however, directed primarily towards a specific practical aim or objective.
- Experimental development is systematic work, drawing on existing knowledge gained from research and/or practical experience, which is directed to producing new materials, products or devices, to installing new processes, systems and services, or to improving substantially those already produced or installed.
Most of the research that is reported in the journals that are the focus of this report is either basic or applied research.
Creative Commons
Creative Commons is a not-for-profit organization that enables the sharing and use of creativity and knowledge through easy-to-use copyright licenses that provide a simple, standardized way to give the public permission to share and use creative work on conditions that authors and creators choose. The licences are built around four sets of conditions:
- Attribution (by), which allows users to copy, distribute, display and perform the work and make derivative works based on it only if they give the authors credit in the form they prescribe
- Non-commercial (nc), which allows users to copy, distribute, display, and perform the work and make derivative works based on it only for non-commercial purposes
- No Derivative Works (nd), which allows users to copy, distribute, display and perform only verbatim copies of the work, and not any derivative works based on it
- Share-alike (sa), which allows users to distribute derivative works only under a licence identical to the licence that governs the original work
The conditions may be combined in a number of ways, reflecting the conditions the creators wish to impose. The CC-BY licence imposes the fewest conditions, although there is also a CC Zero licence under which creators waive all copyrights and related interests that they may have over a work.
Journals
The journals that are the focus of our report are referred to by various terms, including academic journals, learned journals, scholarly journals and scientific journals. The key point
