Note from the Editor-in-Chief: The role of scientometrics in the purposeful monitoring of the promotion and stagnation of science

The components involved in science and technology need constant monitoring and evaluation due to their significant role in the scientific development of societies. The observation of these components, which are also referred to as scientific promotion and stagnation evaluation studies, is one of the most important scientometric studies that has always been widely considered and needed by policymakers and planners in scientific and academic circles. This type of study is important because it can show the strengths and weaknesses of each component, provide the necessary grounds for society to benefit from these strengths, as well as eliminate possible shortcomings. Hence, this type of study is applicable at different levels and layers of international, regional, national, as well as at the level of one or more organizations, groups or even individuals.
However, it should be noted that the implementation of the scientific promotion and stagnation evaluation process at each of these levels requires the use of appropriate mechanisms, methods, and, of course, appropriate indicators. In addition, the main purpose of the study should be clear; because it is ultimately through matching the results with the initial goals that one can analyze the results correctly and answer this important question, "How much improvement or stagnation has been achieved in terms of what was supposed to be done?".
Obviously, if the goals and indicators are not clear, the results of the scientific promotion and stagnation will not be very reliable; Because, for example, a country may encourage its researchers to work in these areas in order to achieve the goals set in the vision and to move towards strengthening itself in the priority areas of science and technology, and this change of direction, To some extent, it causes decreasing in the number of articles in the country.
However, since this reduction in growth is aimed at strengthening the movement in line with the country's priority programs, not only should it not be considered a stagnation, but it should be considered as an effective move.
Another example is the policy of increasing the quality of science production in the country, which leads researchers to publish articles in qualified journals and prevents them from publishing their articles in invalid journals. Obviously, in this case, the positive trend of the country's scientific growth will decrease. However, since the main goal which is improving the quality of scientific products in this policy, the reduction in the growth of scientific products should not considered as a scientific stagnation, which will naturally be one of the consequences of this change in pure attitude.