Michael A. AllenMahidol University2018-09-242018-09-242010-03-01ScienceAsia. Vol.36, No.1 (2010), 1-5151318742-s2.0-77951127674https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/29986Crude publication statistics such as publication counts and impact factors are routinely being employed to assess individuals and institutions. Although they can play a role in an approximate preliminary assessment, using them for anything more is inappropriate due to their over-simplicity and ease of manipulation. Furthermore, it is argued that rewarding scientists for achieving high scores in such number-based evaluations ultimately leads to a slowing of scientific progress. Suggestions are given on how reliance on statistics can be reduced and their manipulation discouraged.Mahidol UniversityMultidisciplinaryArticleSCOPUS10.2306/scienceasial513-1874.2010.36.001