Adoption of bibliometric criteria: blindness to small changes in pairwise comparison

The adoption of bibliometric criteria are assumed as basis for the evaluation of researchers. Often, they are based on the calculus of impact factors (IF), and can give rise to a variety of ranking, that, in turn, may be used for the evaluation of scientific research, projects, and candidates to scientific jobs. The final ranking is usually reached through compromises, and the operation of convincing committee members and attracting the convergence to a specific ranking. We already examined the difficulties well expressed in the Arrow’s impossibility theorem, and examined the role of the behavioral aspect named blindness to small changes. Such aspects are based on specific hypotheses, and the way to reach consensus has to be further discussed. In this STSM, the work already done is going to be further examined, to clarify and prepare the manuscript for the final publication and initiate a complementary paper.