The essay is a dialogue about scientometrics and its effects. The starting point is the article by Eunice Trein and José Rodrigues (2011). We criticize the argument of shortage in its post scriptum, but we endorse the idea that knowledge has been treated as a commodity. We also suggest a distinction between productivism and productivity. In addition, we collect some signs and evidence, and also review part of the national and international literature, supporting the core of the criticism of the authors and deepening some points. The focus of our critique of the productivity norm is that the model of evaluation and valuation is mistakenly based on the prestige of the journal and on quantitative or conventional criteria, and lacks epistemic and qualitative parameters, which can generate productivism.
scientometrics; productivity; productivism; research quality