02483nas a2200217 4500000000100000008004100001260001500042653002100057653002100078653001600099653002400115653002100139653002900160100002200189245010900211856004600320300001200366490000700378520186600385022001402251 2017 d c2017-01-0110aAcademic careers10aContent analysis10apeer review10aResearch evaluation10aresearch quality10aReward system of science1 aBjörn Hammarfelt00aRecognition and reward in the academy: Valuing publication oeuvres in biomedicine, economics and history uhttps://doi.org/10.1108/AJIM-01-2017-0006 a607-6230 v693 aPurpose The publication oeuvre of a researcher carries great value when academic careers are assessed, and being recognised as a successful candidate is usually equated with being a productive author. Yet, how publications are valued in the context of evaluating careers is so far an understudied topic. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach Through a content analysis of assessment reports in three disciplines – biomedicine, economics and history – this paper analyses how externalities are used to evaluate publication oeuvres. Externalities are defined as features such as reviews and bibliometric indicators, which can be assessed without evaluating the epistemological claims made in the actual text. Findings All three fields emphasise similar aspects when assessing: authorship, publication prestige, temporality of research, reputation within the field and boundary keeping. Yet, how these facets of quality are evaluated, and the means through which they are assessed differs between disciplines. Moreover, research fields orient themselves according to different temporal horizons, i.e. history looks to the past and economics to the future when research is evaluated. Research limitations/implications The complexities involved in the process of evaluating candidates are also reflected in the findings, and while the comparative approach taken effectively highlights domain specific differences it may also hide counter-narratives, and subtle intradisciplinary discussion on quality. Originality/value This study offers a novel perspective on how publications are valued when assessing academic careers. Especially striking is how research across different fields is evaluated through different time horizons. This finding is significant in the debate on more overarching and formal systems of research evaluation. a2050-3806