How do we measure impact?
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2025 10:38 am
Luckily, there are indicators available, both qualitative and quantitative.
Qualitative examples that spring to mind are a written acknowledgement or an email from a peer. Quantitative examples are, in turn, citation, view and download metrics and it is these metrics I qatar rcs data tend to rely on when choosing which research to check out and include.
After all, we could say that this is an easy and relatively quick way of finding out what research is getting attention. Examples of the citation metrics I personally tend to use are Google Scholar and Altmetrics.
How should we measure impact?
Comparing these two different types of feedback of impact, the qualitative would seem to be of greater value. It takes more effort to read a piece of work and write a piece of text. Furthermore, to what extent can we rely on quantitative metrics to tell us whether an article has actually been read, whether it has left an impact?
After all, sometimes academics simply cite to cite, to indicate that they are aware of research in the field and to provide context of the study presented. In addition, impact factors themselves may not adequately serve as impact indicators (e.g. Vanclay, 2011).
Qualitative examples that spring to mind are a written acknowledgement or an email from a peer. Quantitative examples are, in turn, citation, view and download metrics and it is these metrics I qatar rcs data tend to rely on when choosing which research to check out and include.
After all, we could say that this is an easy and relatively quick way of finding out what research is getting attention. Examples of the citation metrics I personally tend to use are Google Scholar and Altmetrics.
How should we measure impact?
Comparing these two different types of feedback of impact, the qualitative would seem to be of greater value. It takes more effort to read a piece of work and write a piece of text. Furthermore, to what extent can we rely on quantitative metrics to tell us whether an article has actually been read, whether it has left an impact?
After all, sometimes academics simply cite to cite, to indicate that they are aware of research in the field and to provide context of the study presented. In addition, impact factors themselves may not adequately serve as impact indicators (e.g. Vanclay, 2011).