An Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Physical Measurement Laboratory: Fiscal Year 2025 (2026)
Chapter: Appendix B: Definitions of Qualitative Descriptors
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Appendix A: Biographical Sketches of Panel
Appendix B
Suggested Citation:
"Appendix B: Definitions of Qualitative Descriptors." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2026. An Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Physical Measurement Laboratory: Fiscal Year 2025. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
doi: 10.17226/29294.
Appendix B
Definitions of Qualitative Descriptors
Throughout this assessment, the panel makes qualitative statements about the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Physical Measurement Laboratory’s (PML’s) achievements—for example, that PML performs high-quality research and produces high-impact publications in specific fields. Table B-1 provides a list of the qualitative descriptors used in the report and the panel’s definitions of the terms.
TABLE B-1 Definitions of Qualitative Descriptors
| Term | Definition Used by the Panel |
|---|---|
| Cutting-edge | The aspect of NIST PML being described is at the forefront of its field, to the panel’s knowledge |
| First-of-a-kind | The aspect of NIST PML being described has never been achieved before, to the panel’s knowledge |
| High-impact | Describing publications or journals, those disseminating groundbreaking research that has been peer reviewed and is highly cited by other researchers |
| High-quality | Describing research publications, those disseminating results of rigorous experimentation or theory that have been peer reviewed |
| One-of-a-kind | The aspect of NIST PML is the only example in the world, to the panel’s knowledge |
| State-of-the-art | The item being described is the most technologically advanced or newest in its field |
| World-class | The aspect of NIST PML being described is among the best in the world, to the panel’s knowledge |
| World-leading | The aspect of NIST PML being described is the best in the world, to the panel’s knowledge |
| World-renowned | The international community recognizes this aspect of NIST PML as leading in the field |
Suggested Citation:
"Appendix B: Definitions of Qualitative Descriptors." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2026. An Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Physical Measurement Laboratory: Fiscal Year 2025. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
doi: 10.17226/29294.
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Suggested Citation:
"Appendix B: Definitions of Qualitative Descriptors." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2026. An Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Physical Measurement Laboratory: Fiscal Year 2025. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
doi: 10.17226/29294.
Suggested Citation:
"Appendix B: Definitions of Qualitative Descriptors." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2026. An Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Physical Measurement Laboratory: Fiscal Year 2025. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
doi: 10.17226/29294.
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