General Information on Citation Metrics and Altmetrics
Journal citation metrics are intended to help scholars identify highly cited journals in their field. Citation metrics measure how frequently publications have been cited with the goal of measuring the impact of the journal within that discipline. Keep in mind, this is not a direct measure of the quality of the publications. There are many different metrics available, each with its own formula for measuring impact. As a result, you may want to consider looking at a variety of metrics. Some things to consider when you are using citation metrics:
- Not all metrics evaluate and rank the same list of journals
- Not all metrics evaluate and rank the same types of publications (e.g., research articles, monographs, reviews, conference papers, book chapters, etc.)
- Citation rates vary widely in disciplines so metrics of journals from differently disciplines will not be comparable.
- Not all disciplines (and sub-disciplines) are represented and categorized in these various metrics. For your specific area of research, impact metrics may be unhelpful.
- There are many things besides impact factor to consider when looking for the best way to disseminate your research.
Altmetrics are complementary to traditional, citation-based metrics. They typically track mentions to scholarly research in social media, the news, blogs, etc.
Impact Factor: The Measure of a Journal - Randy Souther, Gleeson librarian and editor of the open access journal Bearing Witness: Joyce Carol Oates Studies, discusses Impact Factor and alternative journal metrics.
Where to Find Citation Metrics and Altmetrics
- Scopus
Scopus is the largest abstract and citation database of peer-reviewed literature: scientific journals, books and conference proceedings. Delivering a comprehensive overview of the world's research output in the fields of science, technology, medicine, social sciences, and arts and humanities, Scopus features smart tools to track, analyze and visualize research.
You may see a screen prompting you to register or personalize your account. You are not required to do so and can click the 'Continue' button to access the site. Similarly, if you encounter a “Welcome to Scopus” screen asking you to create an account or sign in, click 'X' in the upper right to close the window.
- Web of Science Master Journal ListWhile Gleeson Library does not have access to the database called "Web of Science" you can access the Web of Science Master Journal List. This is a tool to help you to find the right journal for your needs across multiple indices hosted on the Web of Science platform. In order to use this tool, you will need a Web of Science username and password (which you can create for free).
- Google Scholar MetricsGoogle Scholar Metrics provide a way for authors to gauge the visibility and influence of recent articles in scholarly publications. Scholar Metrics summarize recent citations to many publications, to help authors as they consider where to publish their new research.
