This training provides an overview of research metrics, how to use metrics appropriately, and their limitations. It is aimed at those with no or little prior knowledge of the area and explains the most commonly used quantitative (for example, citation-based) metrics, and the tools that can be used to calculate them, and qualitative expert judgement and peer review.
By the end of this training, learners should:
- Know how to use metrics appropriately.
- Be able to use multiple indicators to help to provide more robust information underpinned by data that is reliable, statistically valid, multi-faceted and its limitations understood.
- Learn how to use subject/field normalized indicators.
- Consider the appropriateness of any indicators used for non-English language research.
Training Outline:
- What are responsible research metrics
- Use and Misuse of citation-based metrics.
- Author & Article Level Metrics & Tools: Scopus, Google Scholar, Altmetric.com, Web of Science.
- Choosing Appropriate Metrics.
Resources for workshop facilitators and learners
Online courses:
- “Bibliometric Basics”. IATUL Research Impact Things - a self-paced training program for libraries.
- “Traditional metrics”. IATUL Research Impact Things - a self-paced training program for libraries.
- “Responsible Use of Metrics”. IATUL Research Impact Things - a self-paced training program for libraries.
Videos and webinars:
- Webinar recording, slides and training exercises: “How to train students and researchers on the topic, Bibliometrics”, Niamh Brennan, Trinity College Dublin, and EIFL.
- Presentation recording: "Bibliometrics, the Matthew effect and diversity in academia", Dr. Elisabeth Gadd, Loughborough University, ON-MERRIT.
- Bibliometrics and Altmetrics: An Introduction With Quiz, Florida Atlantic University Libraries.
- “What are responsible metrics?”, University of Exeter.
- “Research in 3 Minutes: Responsible Metrics”, Office of Scholarly Communication, Cambridge.
- “Research assessment - equity, diversity and inclusion”, Stephen Curry, Buhle Mbambo-Thata.
Library Guides:
- “Bibliometrics & Research Impact: Responsible Metrics”, Glucksman Library University of Limerick.
- “Responsible Metrics”, Durham University.
- “Research Impact: Responsible Metrics”, University of Michigan Library.
- “Bibliometrics & Responsible Research Evaluation”, University College Dublin.
- “Bibliometrics: A practical guide”, University of York.
- “Database Comparisons”, Iowa State University.
Examples of presentations, training exercises and guides:
- Michelle Dalton “Bibliometrics for Beginners”, University College Dublin.
- “Metrics toolkit: you can quickly understand what a metric means, how it is calculated, and if it's a good match for your impact question”.
- “Article Level Metrics: A SPARC Primer”.
- Report “Assessing Europe's University Based Research”. European Commission: Expert Group on Assessment of University-Based Research, Assessing Europe's University Based Research, European Commission Directorate General for Research.
- Marianne Gauffriau. “Navigating Responsible Research Assessment Guidelines”.
- “Responsible Research Assessment and Evaluation”.
- “Responsible metrics”, University of Birmingham.
- “Responsible metrics for researchers”, University of Kent.
- “Principles to promote responsible use of research metrics”, University of Oxford.
- “Bibliometrics - Assessing Research”, University of Southampton.
- “Responsible metrics”, the University of Manchester Library.
- “THE BIBLIOMAGICIAN”: Comment & practical guidance from the LIS-Bibliometrics community.