Alternative metrics, also known as Altmetrics are types of metrics used to measure research impact outside traditional scholarly impacts such as citation counts and journal impact.
Altmetrics measures uses of both traditional scholarly communication as well as non-traditional sources such as datasets, programming codes, poster presentations, software, performances, exhibitions etc. It can include:
Advantages | Disadvantages |
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Measures impact outside research environment - e.g. public adoption | Lack of standards of measurement |
Available more quickly than traditional metrics | Can be manipulated - e.g. falsely inflated likes |
Measures non-traditional outputs - e.g. performances, software, datasets | Popular not research related |
More granular article level data | Time consuming to gather due to wide range of sources |
Broader picture of research impact than just traditional metrics |
Acceptance by research community |
Promotes sharing | Lack of comparability across platforms, countries, disciplines and time |
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Note: From Magazines [Photograph], by S. Winters, 2007, Flickr (https://tinyurl.com/y3hc5wt6). |
Accreditation: The content of this section has been adapted from "Altmetrics" from the University Library System, University of Pittsburgh
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Note: From Server Room of BalticServers [Photograph], by BalticServers.com, 2013, Wikimedia Commons (https://tinyurl.com/y58ztfvu). |
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![]() Note: From Software Tools [Image], by A. Mallick42, 2016, Wikimedia Commons (https://tinyurl.com/y5btzv64). CC BY-SA 4.0. |
Note: From The Presentation [Photograph], by Lala89_Photos, 2016, Flickr (https://tinyurl.com/yytsydlb). CC BY 2.0. |
Note: From Video Camera & Microphone, by Panelxf, 2020, Wikimedia Commons (https://tinyurl.com/y5ggemla). CC0 1.0 Universal. |
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Note: From Guitarist in an Art Gallery, by M. Georgieva, 2016, Wikimedia Commons (https://tinyurl.com/y6x8hhwo). CC0 1.0. |
There are a number of Altmetric products available that track and collate alternative metrics such as social media and mass media mentions, shares, likes etc.
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