The analysis of factors affecting the effectiveness of research work of the subdivisions of the NMRC TPM of the Ministry of Health of Russia (in the following text — Centre) is especially relevant in terms of assessing the activities of individual scientists using universal indicative indicators developed in order to implement an effective contract of the Centre further improvement of mechanisms for stimulating scientific activity.

OBJECTIVE

Assessment of the quantitative composition impact of the Centre’s divisions on the total volume of scientific products measured in the number of published scientific articles, monographs and reports at scientific conferences and determination of significant factors for assessing the effectiveness of research work.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The sample included researchers working in 17 divisions of the Centre. The study included information on the assessment of the effectiveness of scientific activities based on indicative indicators expressed in points which were calculated according to Appendix 3 “Individual list of quantitative indicators of labor productivity for all categories of scientific workers positions” approved by Order dated September 28, 2018 No. 224 “On approval Of the Regulation on a Scientist” and Order of August 29, 2018 No. 210 “On the transition to an effective contract” of the Federal State Budgetary Institution NMRC PM of the Ministry of Health of Russia. As a material for the study, the tables of the system rating of the Centre’s divisions for 2016-2018 were used. Information about scientometric and bibliometric indicators was extracted from abstract databases.

RESULTS

The total number of researchers of 17 operating divisions of the Centre was 129 people in 2016, 143 — in 2017, 150 — 2018. 17 groups were allocated according to the number of departments which, in turn, were divided into 3 large groups depending on the number of employees: 5 large divisions with the number of researchers from 8 to 27 people (1^st group); 7 medium-sized divisions with the number of employees from 5 to 7 people (2^nd group); 5 small subdivisions with the number of employees from 2 to 4 people (3^rd group). The indicators of the time series were calculated for the studied serial sample: K₁ — the basic growth rate, Y₁ — the basic absolute growth, K₂ — the coefficient of the basic growth rate. Significant factors were identified according to the criteria of the III level of the effectiveness indicators of research workers (Order dated 08/29/2018 No. 210) to which were attributed A₁ — ‘articles plus monographs’ and A₂ — ‘reports’ providing in total up to 90% of scientific products produced. It is shown that the system under study is in a stable state of constant development with each subsequent year increasing the volume of scientific products. Almost all departments have a positive vector and baseline growth rates. The most stable results were noted in units with the number of researchers from 5 to 15 people in the department.

CONCLUSION

The significant factors for assessing the effectiveness of research work in medical institutions have been determined and the correlation dependence of the research intensity of departments on the number of research workers has been established. The conducted studies have shown the need to improve research methods, expand the volume and number of factors taken into account, change the measurement algorithm, taking into account the latest advances in scientometrics. Thus, the normalization of the composition of departments will have a positive effect on the amount of scientific output in general. Hypothetically, provided that each department staffs the staff in the amount of 10 to 15 scientific units the total number of employees will increase by 70 people which will be more than 50% of the current number of employees. In turn, it can be assumed that 50% increase in employees will lead to increase in output by at least 25%. If we leave unchanged the quantitative and qualitative composition then the increase in scientific production will amount to only 3-5% annually.