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Definition of Research Excellence

Under the new assessment exercise, Excellence Research Australia, the definition of “research” has been expanded to encompass practice-based and practice lead research in the creative and performing arts as well as traditional approaches to research. The ARC defined research as:

the creation of new knowledge and/or the use of existing knowledge in a new and creative way so as to generate new concepts, methodologies and understandings. This could include synthesis and analysis of previous research to the extent that it is new and creative. (ARC, 2008: 1)

This definition of research specifically allows for "practice-based", "practice-led" and practice as research. The ERA documentation notes that in adopting this definition of research, it allows ERA to develop a consistent notion of research and experimental development (R&D) across the disciplines including the humanities and the creative arts. Thus, according to the guidelines, the definition encompasses ‘creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of humanity, culture and society, and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise applications’ (ARC, 2008: 1)

In traditional research high quality publications consist of:

  • Books of high quality (both authored and edited)
  • Articles and book chapters of high quality
  • Highly influential reports, submissions, working papers or other similar works.

In practice-led and art-as-research, eligible creative arts research output types include the following creative works:

  • Original (Creative) Works in the Public Domain
  • Live Performance Works in the Public Domain
  • Recorded (Performance) Public Works
  • Curated or Produced Substantial Public Exhibitions, Events or Renderings.

References:

1. Australia Research Council (ARC), (2008) ‘ERA indicator Descriptors’, December 2008, accessed on 25th October 2009 at http://www.arc.gov.au/pdf/ERA_Indicator_Descriptors.pdf

2. Australian Research Council (ARC), (2009) ‘Draft ERA Submission Guidelines: Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences (PCE) and Humanities and Creative Arts (HCA) Clusters’ Consultation Paper, January 2009 accessed on 30th October 2009 at http://www.unisa.edu.au/rqie/docs/DraftERASubmissionGuidelines_HCA_PCE.pdf

3. Australian Research Council (ARC), (2009) Excellence in Research for Australia

ERA 2010 Submission Guidelines, ARC publication.

4. Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS), (2009) ‘Humanities and Creative Arts: Recognising Esteem Factors and Non-Traditional Publications in Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) Initiative’, Advocacy paper, August 2009 accessed on 25th October 2009 at http://www.chass.org.au/papers/PAP20090820HH.php.

 5. Harvey, L. (2009) Opportunities and challenges for the new ERA, accessed on 30th October 2009 at http://www.arc.gov.au/pdf/DASSH_2Oct08.pdf

 6. Seares, M. (2009) ‘A new era for Creative Arts research’ accessed on 25th October 2009 at  http://www.chass.org.au/articles/ART20090430MS.php.

7. Visher, L. (2009) ‘Creative Arts and the New ERA’ accessed on 30th October 2009 at http://www.arc.gov.au/pdf/ACUADS_2Oct08.pdf.