Research metrics uses quantitative methods to evaluate scientific publications. The resulting key figures - so-called scientific metrics - can provide information on the visibility and impact of research.
These metrics can be applied at various levels:
- Authors: e.g. h-index
- Journals: e.g. journal impact factor
- Articles: e.g. citation or download figures
Metrics are often used to assess research performance, for example in appointments, funding decisions or journal selection. However, their informative value is limited: They are hardly comparable between disciplines and do not capture the quality of content. A conscious and responsible approach is therefore important. Initiatives such as the Leiden Manifesto or DORA (San Francisco Declaration of Research Assessment) advocate a differentiated assessment.
Would you like to use research metrics sensibly or understand them better?
Are you interested in the details? Our blog post on the topic explains the most important basics of bibliometrics.
