NISO Virtual Conference: Expanding the Assessment Toolbox: Blending the Old and New Assessment Practices Development of specific definitions for alternative assessment metrics Mike Showalter, Product Manager, Plum Analytics - NISO Altmetrics Project Working Group A Co-chair

1. Altmetrics WG A:
Definitions & Use Cases
Mike Showalter
Product Manager, Plum Analytics
NISO Altmetrics Project Working Group A Co-chair
4/29/2015 Expanding the Assessment Toolbox

2. Members
• Mike Showalter, Plum Analytics
• Michael Habib, Elsevier
• Nettie Lagace, NISO
• Martin Fenner, PLOS
• Angela Rathmel, University of Kansas Libraries
• Beth Martin, UNC Charlotte
• Brigitte Jörg, Thomson Reuters
• Catherine Jones, Science and Technology
Facilities Council
• Daniel Beucke, University of Goettingen
• Dianne Cmor, Nanyang Technological
University
• Dr. Rodrigo Costas, Centre for Science and
Technology Studies, University of Leiden
• Ginny Pittman, Wolters Kluwer Health
• Jean Liu, Altmetric
• Joshua Lupkin, Tulane University
• Karen Gutzman, Northwestern University
• Kathy Kwan, National Library of Medicine
• Kazuhiro Hayashi, National Institute of
Science and Technology Policy
• Kim Mitchell, SAGE Publications
• Maria Boixadera, Universitat Oberta de
Catalunya
• Marie McVeigh, Independent
• Mark Vargas, St. Cloud State University
• Martha Kyrillidou, Association of Research
Libraries (ARL)
• Rachel Borchardt, American University
Library
• Robin Chin Roemer, University of
Washington
• Sharon Dyas-Correia, University of Toronto
• Sharon Parkinson, Emerald Publishing Group
• Sheila Yeh, Denver University Libraries
• Simon Tanner, Kings College, London
• Tracey DePellegrin, Genetics Society of
America

3. Background
• Phase 1 of NISO Alternative Assessment
Metrics (Altmetrics) Initiative in 2014
– White paper identified key areas of focus
– Prioritized list of 5 broad action items, including
definitions

4. Background cont.
• “Altmetrics” is the most widely used term to
describe alternative assessment metrics.
– Coined by Jason Priem in 2010
– Usually describes metrics that are alternative to
the established citation counts and research
outputs (journal articles)
• Questions raised:
– Distinct types of altmetrics that differ with regard
to how they measure impact?
– How do they apply to diverse research outputs?

5. Overall Goal
• Create specific definitions for the terms
commonly used in alternative assessment
metrics
– Enables different stakeholders to talk about the
same thing
– Lays the groundwork for the other working groups

6. Work to Date
• Members and co-chairs selected
• Groups scheduled created
• Two initial meetings held this month
– Primary outcome was an agreement to start from
use cases and develop the definitions from there
– Prioritize primary from secondary use cases
– Include outside stakeholders as needed
– Currently in research phase

7. Work to Date
• Members and co-chairs selected
• Groups scheduled created
• Two initial meetings held this month
– Primary outcome was an agreement to start from
use cases and develop the definitions from there
– Prioritize primary from secondary use cases
– Include outside stakeholders as needed
– Currently in research phase