FAIRSECO: An Extensible Framework for Impact Measurement of Research Software

TL;DR

FAIRSECO is an open-source framework designed to evaluate the impact and quality of research software, helping to recognize the contributions of Research Software Engineers and improve software assessment methods.

Contribution

We introduce FAIRSECO, an extensible framework that assesses research software impact and quality, addressing gaps in crediting Research Software Engineers and providing comprehensive impact metrics.

Findings

Provides metrics on software quality and FAIRness.

Offers impact data for project success measurement.

Enhances recognition for Research Software Engineers.

Abstract

The growing usage of research software in the research community has highlighted the need to recognize and acknowledge the contributions made not only by researchers but also by Research Software Engineers. However, the existing methods for crediting research software and Research Software Engineers have proven to be insufficient. In response, we have developed FAIRSECO, an extensible open source framework with the objective of assessing the impact of research software in research through the evaluation of various factors. The FAIRSECO framework addresses two critical information needs: firstly, it provides potential users of research software with metrics related to software quality and FAIRness. Secondly, the framework provides information for those who wish to measure the success of a project by offering impact data. By exploring the quality and impact of research software, our aim is to ensure that Research Software Engineers receive the recognition they deserve for their valuable contributions.