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01.11.2024

CAPES Changes Affirm CadLin Policies

Since its inception, Cadernos de Linguística has highlighted the problems associated with traditional scientific evaluation metrics, such as the impact factor and the emphasis on citation counts. Following the guidelines of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), we have never prioritized these metrics nor used them as primary indicators of quality. We believe that research should be assessed on its own merits, considering its contribution to the advancement of knowledge and its impact on the academic community and society.

The recent change announced by CAPES, which from 2025 will focus on the classification of individual articles rather than journals, only reinforces our stance and reflects a global trend in scientific publication policies. This new approach acknowledges that the quality and relevance of a piece of work cannot be inferred solely from the publication venue but must be evaluated based on the content and impact of the article itself.

It is worth noting that, despite being less than five years old, the h5-index of Cadernos de Linguística on Google Scholar is comparable to that of many journals classified as A1 in the latest CAPES Qualis, where the h-index was one of the main criteria for ranking journals. However, we want to emphasize that these indicators are not the primary focus of Cadernos de Linguística.

Our priority lies in alternative metrics that assess adherence to Open Science practices and promote a culture of transparency, accessibility, and collaboration. We value indices like Top Factor and the Miguilim Thermometer, which consider aspects such as open access, publication ethics, interoperability, and the social impact of research. The Miguilim Thermometer, for instance, awarded *Cadernos de Linguística* the maximum score of 100%, making it the only journal to achieve this distinction, reflecting our commitment to the principles of Open Science.

Additionally, we understand the importance of increasing the visibility and reach of published work. For this reason, we invest in the continuous and extensive promotion of articles across various media platforms, which enhances engagement with the academic community and boosts specific indicators of each article, such as views, downloads, and altmetrics. This practice aligns with the new CAPES evaluation methodology, which values the individual impact of studies.

We believe that the change in assessment proposed by CAPES is a significant step toward a fairer and more representative evaluation of Brazilian scientific production. We will continue to support and promote practices that value the intrinsic quality of research, publication ethics, and the broad and open dissemination of knowledge.

Cadernos de Linguística remains committed to building a more open, inclusive, and collaborative future in scientific publishing, aligning with global trends and the needs of the academic community.

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