The Evolution of Current Research Impact Metrics: From Bibliometrics to Altmetrics?
Publication/Presentation Date
6-1-2017
Abstract
The prestige of publication has been based on traditional citation metrics, most commonly journal impact factor. However, the Internet has radically changed the speed, flow, and sharing of medical information. Furthermore, the explosion of social media, along with development of popular professional and scientific websites and blogs, has led to the need for alternative metrics, known as altmetrics, to quantify the wider impact of research. We explore the evolution of current research impact metrics and examine the evolving role of altmetrics in measuring the wider impact of research. We suggest that altmetrics used in research evaluation should be part of an informed peer-review process such as traditional metrics. Moreover, results based on altmetrics must not lead to direct decision making about research, but instead, should be used to assist experts in making decisions. Finally, traditional and alternative metrics should complement, not replace, each other in the peer-review process.
Volume
30
Issue
5
First Page
226
Last Page
228
ISSN
2380-0194
Published In/Presented At
Butler, J. S., Kaye, I. D., Sebastian, A. S., Wagner, S. C., Morrissey, P. B., Schroeder, G. D., Kepler, C. K., & Vaccaro, A. R. (2017). The Evolution of Current Research Impact Metrics: From Bibliometrics to Altmetrics?. Clinical spine surgery, 30(5), 226–228. https://doi.org/10.1097/BSD.0000000000000531
Disciplines
Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
PubMedID
28338492
Department(s)
Research, Administration and Leadership
Document Type
Article