Research On SCI

Science Citation Index (SCI) is one of the most important index tools in the world, and it is also an important reference when Quantitative Evaluation is applied to scientific research achievements. However, because of inadequate knowledge of SCI, it is abused as the unique index in our country, especially its function is exaggerated boundlessly, which prevents our scientific research cause from developing healthily. In order to know the SCI function correctly and use it as an important referring implement to scientific evaluation with rational rang, SCI's characteristic and function are discussed based on its history and developing. The disputes to SCI focus on whether it, used as an implement of Quantitative Evaluation, can evaluate China's scientific research achievements objectively and impartially. Based on the analysis on the mechanism and feasibility of SCI's scientific evaluation, the limitation to SCI, especially to its quotation measuring, is analysed in detail, and a conclusion is made that SCI can be used as scientific evaluation standard, but not the unique one, and its evaluation function must be treated prudently. In a word, SCI can not be abused, nor can it be abandoned. China's scientific evaluation system should restore the dominant position of peer review to converge with the international scientific evaluation method, and actively promote the integration of qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the integrated system. The SCI Citation statistics should be combined with those of CSSCI and CSCD which reflect the characteristics of China's scientific research to explore the scientific evaluation methods with China's national conditions with a view to fully mobilize the enthusiasm of China's scientific and technological personnel, and promote the cause of science and technology healthily.