an overview of bibliometrics vs. altmetrics

1. What the heck are altmetrics?
STS Hot Topics
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Rachel Borchardt
American University
borchard@american.edu

2. But first - what the heck are
research metrics?
Aka bibliometrics, scientometrics,
research impact ..
 Generally speaking, a way to measure the
impact/quality/etc. of research


3. Well-known traditional metrics

Article-level metrics
◦ Times Cited

Journal-level metrics
◦ Impact Factor

Author-level metrics
◦ H-index

Common denominator: Thomson Reuters

4. Lesser-known traditional metrics

Article-level metrics
◦ Times Cited (compiled from different sources,
most notably Scopus and Google Scholar)

Journal-level metrics
◦ SJR and SNIP

Author-level metrics
◦ i-10 index
◦ H-index variations (mainly compiled using Publish
or Perish software)

5. Bibliometrics vs. altmetrics
What makes altmetrics different?

Altmetrics uses different data points to
create metrics
◦ i.e., NOT citation counts

Altmetrics covers not only journals, but
other forms of output such as:
◦ Presentations
◦ Blogs and podcasts
◦ Data sets

6. Examples of altmetrics

Article altmetrics
◦ Downloads / page views from publisher

Presentation metrics
◦ Views, downloads,
favorites from SlideShare
(more on this later!)

7. Blurred lines
Bibliometrics or altmetrics? It’s not always clear.

Book metrics
◦ Not entirely new, but metrics are still ‘fuzzy’
◦ Citations, reviews, Amazon sales, WorldCat library
holdings, # of books published

Google Scholar citation counts
◦ Includes citations from sources like
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Dissertations
White papers
Pre-publications
Online bibliographies
Books and book chapters

8. Why altmetrics?

Creating a ‘spectrum of impact’

Metrics like Impact Factor have received
heavy criticism

Bibliometrics designed for STEM fields

Collecting quantitative measurements for a
fuller picture of scholarly communication
methods

9. Concerns and criticisms

Easier to ‘game’ altmetrics?
◦ Intentional and unintentional

Unfamiliarity with the metrics,
methodology, and/or context for metrics

Skepticism and other negative perceptions