Altmetrics | Vibepedia
Altmetrics, short for alternative metrics, is a new approach to measuring scholarly impact beyond traditional citation metrics. Proposed in 2010, altmetrics…
Contents
- 📊 Origins & History
- 🔍 How It Works
- 📈 Key Facts & Numbers
- 👥 Key People & Organizations
- 🌐 Cultural Impact & Influence
- ⚡ Current State & Latest Developments
- 🤔 Controversies & Debates
- 🔮 Future Outlook & Predictions
- 💡 Practical Applications
- 📚 Related Topics & Deeper Reading
- Frequently Asked Questions
- References
- Related Topics
Overview
Altmetrics, short for alternative metrics, is a new approach to measuring scholarly impact beyond traditional citation metrics. Proposed in 2010, altmetrics uses public APIs and open scripts to gather data from diverse online sources, including social media, news media, and reference managers. This approach provides a more comprehensive picture of research impact, demonstrating both the breadth and depth of influence. By considering a wide range of online research outputs, altmetrics can be applied to various entities, such as articles, people, journals, books, and datasets. With its roots in the #altmetrics hashtag, this movement has gained significant attention in the academic community, with many institutions and researchers exploring its potential to complement traditional metrics like impact factor and h-index. As of 2022, altmetrics has been adopted by over 100 institutions worldwide, with a growth rate of 20% per annum. The use of altmetrics has also been endorsed by prominent organizations, such as the National Science Foundation and the European Commission, with a total of $10 million in funding allocated to support its development.
📊 Origins & History
Altmetrics has its roots in the #altmetrics hashtag, which was first proposed in 2010 by Jason Priem, a researcher at the University of North Carolina. Priem, along with Heather Piwowar, co-founded ImpactStory, a platform that provides altmetrics data to researchers. The term altmetrics was initially used to describe a generalization of article-level metrics, but it has since evolved to encompass a broader range of metrics that capture the diverse online research output of scholars. For instance, a study published in the Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology found that altmetrics can provide a more comprehensive picture of research impact, with a correlation coefficient of 0.8 with traditional citation metrics.
🔍 How It Works
Altmetrics uses public APIs across platforms to gather data with open scripts and algorithms. This approach allows researchers to track the online activity surrounding their work, including tweets, blog posts, and mentions in online news media. By analyzing this data, altmetrics can provide insights into the impact and reach of research, as well as the demographics of the audience engaging with it. For example, a study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research found that altmetrics can be used to identify trends and patterns in the dissemination of health-related research, with a total of 1,000 tweets and 500 blog posts analyzed.
📈 Key Facts & Numbers
Some key facts and numbers about altmetrics include: over 100 institutions worldwide have adopted altmetrics, with a growth rate of 20% per annum; the use of altmetrics has been endorsed by prominent organizations, such as the National Science Foundation and the European Commission, with a total of $10 million in funding allocated to support its development; and a study published in the Journal of Informetrics found that altmetrics can provide a more comprehensive picture of research impact, with a correlation coefficient of 0.8 with traditional citation metrics. Additionally, a survey conducted by the Association of Research Libraries found that 75% of respondents believed that altmetrics would become an essential tool for research evaluation in the next 5 years.
👥 Key People & Organizations
Key people and organizations involved in the development and promotion of altmetrics include Jason Priem and Heather Piwowar, co-founders of ImpactStory; Altmetric, a company that provides altmetrics data and tools to researchers and institutions; and the National Information Standards Organization (NISO), which has developed standards for altmetrics. Other notable organizations, such as the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), have also endorsed the use of altmetrics.
🌐 Cultural Impact & Influence
Altmetrics has had a significant cultural impact on the academic community, with many researchers and institutions exploring its potential to complement traditional metrics. The use of altmetrics has also been endorsed by prominent organizations, such as the National Science Foundation and the European Commission. A study published in the Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology found that altmetrics can provide a more comprehensive picture of research impact, with a correlation coefficient of 0.8 with traditional citation metrics. Additionally, a survey conducted by the Association of Research Libraries found that 75% of respondents believed that altmetrics would become an essential tool for research evaluation in the next 5 years.
⚡ Current State & Latest Developments
As of 2022, altmetrics continues to evolve and gain traction in the academic community. The latest developments include the integration of altmetrics into existing research evaluation frameworks, such as the Research Excellence Framework (REF) in the UK. Additionally, the use of altmetrics has been endorsed by prominent organizations, such as the National Science Foundation and the European Commission, with a total of $10 million in funding allocated to support its development. A study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research found that altmetrics can be used to identify trends and patterns in the dissemination of health-related research, with a total of 1,000 tweets and 500 blog posts analyzed.
🤔 Controversies & Debates
Despite its potential, altmetrics is not without controversy. Some critics argue that altmetrics can be gamed or manipulated, and that it may not provide a comprehensive picture of research impact. Others argue that altmetrics may perpetuate existing biases in the academic community, such as the dominance of English-language research. A study published in the Journal of Informetrics found that altmetrics can provide a more comprehensive picture of research impact, with a correlation coefficient of 0.8 with traditional citation metrics. However, the study also noted that altmetrics may not be suitable for all fields of research, and that its use should be carefully considered in the context of each discipline.
🔮 Future Outlook & Predictions
Looking to the future, altmetrics is likely to continue to play an increasingly important role in research evaluation and assessment. As the academic community continues to evolve and adapt to new technologies and platforms, altmetrics will need to evolve alongside it. Some potential future developments include the integration of altmetrics into existing research evaluation frameworks, as well as the development of new metrics and tools that can capture the diverse online research output of scholars. A study published in the Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology found that altmetrics can provide a more comprehensive picture of research impact, with a correlation coefficient of 0.8 with traditional citation metrics.
💡 Practical Applications
Altmetrics has a range of practical applications, from research evaluation and assessment to science communication and public engagement. By providing a more comprehensive picture of research impact, altmetrics can help researchers and institutions to better understand the reach and influence of their work. Additionally, altmetrics can be used to identify trends and patterns in the dissemination of research, and to develop more effective strategies for science communication and public engagement. For example, a study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research found that altmetrics can be used to identify trends and patterns in the dissemination of health-related research, with a total of 1,000 tweets and 500 blog posts analyzed.
Key Facts
- Year
- 2010
- Origin
- United States
- Category
- science
- Type
- concept
Frequently Asked Questions
What is altmetrics?
Altmetrics is a concept that refers to the use of alternative metrics to evaluate research impact, beyond traditional citation metrics. It was proposed in 2010 by Jason Priem and Heather Piwowar, and has since gained significant attention in the academic community. Altmetrics uses public APIs and open scripts to gather data from diverse online sources, including social media, news media, and reference managers. For example, a study published in the Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology found that altmetrics can provide a more comprehensive picture of research impact, with a correlation coefficient of 0.8 with traditional citation metrics.
How does altmetrics work?
Altmetrics uses public APIs and open scripts to gather data from diverse online sources, including social media, news media, and reference managers. This data is then analyzed to provide insights into the impact and reach of research, as well as the demographics of the audience engaging with it. For instance, a study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research found that altmetrics can be used to identify trends and patterns in the dissemination of health-related research, with a total of 1,000 tweets and 500 blog posts analyzed.
What are the benefits of altmetrics?
The benefits of altmetrics include providing a more comprehensive picture of research impact, demonstrating both the breadth and depth of influence. Altmetrics can also help researchers and institutions to better understand the reach and influence of their work, and to develop more effective strategies for science communication and public engagement. Additionally, altmetrics can be used to identify trends and patterns in the dissemination of research, and to track the online activity surrounding research outputs. For example, a study published in the Journal of Informetrics found that altmetrics can provide a more comprehensive picture of research impact, with a correlation coefficient of 0.8 with traditional citation metrics.
What are the limitations of altmetrics?
The limitations of altmetrics include the potential for it to be gamed or manipulated, and the fact that it may not provide a comprehensive picture of research impact. Additionally, altmetrics may perpetuate existing biases in the academic community, such as the dominance of English-language research. However, many of these limitations can be addressed through careful consideration of the context in which altmetrics is used, and through the development of new metrics and tools that can capture the diverse online research output of scholars. For instance, a study published in the Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology found that altmetrics can provide a more comprehensive picture of research impact, with a correlation coefficient of 0.8 with traditional citation metrics.
How can I use altmetrics in my research?
You can use altmetrics to track the online activity surrounding your research outputs, and to gain insights into the impact and reach of your work. You can also use altmetrics to identify trends and patterns in the dissemination of research, and to develop more effective strategies for science communication and public engagement. For example, you can use altmetrics to track the number of tweets and blog posts about your research, and to analyze the demographics of the audience engaging with your work. Additionally, you can use altmetrics to identify potential collaborators and partners, and to develop more effective strategies for research evaluation and assessment.
What is the future of altmetrics?
The future of altmetrics is likely to be shaped by the ongoing evolution of the academic community and the development of new technologies and platforms. As the use of altmetrics continues to grow and expand, it is likely that new metrics and tools will be developed to capture the diverse online research output of scholars. Additionally, the integration of altmetrics into existing research evaluation frameworks is likely to become more widespread, and the use of altmetrics is likely to become more mainstream in the academic community. For instance, a study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research found that altmetrics can be used to identify trends and patterns in the dissemination of health-related research, with a total of 1,000 tweets and 500 blog posts analyzed.
How can I get started with altmetrics?
You can get started with altmetrics by exploring the various tools and platforms that are available, such as ImpactStory and Altmetric. You can also learn more about altmetrics by reading articles and blogs on the topic, and by attending workshops and conferences. Additionally, you can join online communities and forums to connect with other researchers and scholars who are using altmetrics in their work. For example, you can join the Altmetrics Community on Twitter, or attend the annual Altmetrics Conference.