RESEARCH IMPACT 2.0 ANALYSIS OF NEW TRENDS IN SCHOLARSHIP METRICS Daniela Solomon, Research Services Librarian Kelvin Smith Library, Case Western Reserve University INTRODUCTION Impact is defined as 'the demonstrable contribution that excellent research makes to society and the economy‘1. However, quantifying impact is a difficult task because there is uncertainty in how to define excellence in research, what aspects to take in consideration when evaluating a scholar, and how impact could be demonstrated. Impact metrics have become more important than ever and could affect hiring decisions, promotion and tenure, status among peers, university rankings and academic funding. First attempt at measuring impact was the number of citations based on the implication that what is cited must be good. Citation analysis applies to authors, papers, journals, and institutions. Citation analysis has many flaws and created many controversies (ie, using journal impact factor in evaluating scholars). As a result, citation analysis is deemed insufficient. Moving away from citation analysis is the developing trend altmetrics, which attempts to assess impact based on social web activity. As such, altmetrics constitute an improved answer to public’ expectations for speed, collaboration and openness, and allow the inclusion of new types of scholarship. However, it is argued that altmetrics measure the “reach” and not the quality, and that there is limited availability of data. Altmetrics complement bibliometrics, and the combination of citation analysis with altmetrics could offer an enhanced image of a scholars’ “impact.” MEASURING IMPACT ALTMETRICS CONCLUSIONS Three factors contribute to increased impact metrics: VISIBILITY “It’s not about where you publish, but who you reach.” Cameron Neylon CONSISTENCY “Researcher identification: the right needle in the haystack”12 AVAILABILITY “Not only are items difficult to find but, once found, they often disappear without notice”13 MAXIMIZE IMPACT • write to be discovered • retain copyright • publish in open access publications2-4 • publish works in digital repositories • use social media to disseminate information on your papers and research5-8 • post datasets on the Web9 • post other types of documents (images, illustrations, slides, specimens, etc) on the Web10 • claim incorrect citations to your papers11 • use an unique ID12 • collate scholarly profile • get permanent identifiers13-14 REFERENCES Presented at ALAO 2013 October 25, 2013 Image credits: altmetrics: a manifesto http://altmetrics.org/manifesto/ BIBLIOMETRICS 1. Research Counsils UK. Knowledge Exchange and Impact. Available from: http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/kei/Pages/home.aspx 2. Gargouri, Y., et al., Self-Selected or Mandated, Open Access Increases Citation Impact for Higher Quality Research. PLOS ONE, 2010. 5(10): e13636 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0013636 3. Moed, H., Does open access publishing increase citation or download rates? Research Trends, 2012(28 - May 2012). Available from: http://www.researchtrends.com/issue28-may-2012/does-open-access-publishing-increase-citation-or-download-rates/ 4. Eysenbach, G., Citation Advantage of Open Access Articles. PLOS Biology, 2006. 4(5): e157. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0040157 5. Priem, J., Costello, KL., How and why scholars cite on Twitter., in American Society for Information Science & Technology Annual Meeting. 2010. Available from: https://docs.google.com/a/case.edu/presentation/d/15J41q9EzK3CiMMoIPKY545ACndORpa6Wtj75v1YjrzQ/edit#slide=id.i0 6. Groth, P., Gurney, T. Studying Scientific Discourse on the Web using Bibliometrics: A Chemistry Blogging Case Study. in Proceedings of the WebSci10: Extending the Frontiers of Society On-Line, April 26-27th, 2010, Raleigh, NC. Available from: http://journal.webscience.org/308/ 7. Thelwall, M., et al., Do Altmetrics Work? Twitter and Ten Other Social Web Services. PLOS ONE, 2013. 8(5): e64841 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0064841 8. Allen, H.G., et al., Social Media R