Meaningful Metrics: A 21st Century Librarian's Guide to Bibliometrics, Altmetrics, and Research Impact

Impact, bibliometrics, and altmetrics—what do they all mean in the digital age? What do bibliometrics look like now, 50 years after they were introduced? Roemer (instructional design & outreach svcs. librarian, Univ. of Washington, Seattle) and Borchardt (associate librarian, American Univ.) begin by explaining what impact means to researchers in different disciplines and how both bibliometrics and now altmetrics (alternative metrics) fit into those definitions. The book's approach is to first help readers to understand each concept before moving on to what each one looks like in practice. In order to make meaningful metrics, regardless of what those metrics are, we have to comprehend what they mean for each discipline. The authors include an entire chapter on that issue alone since it can vary widely based on the area of study. Aside from subject differences, university and departmental cultures also play major roles. Bibliographies after each chapter offer additional guidance.