Readership Data and Research Impact
This addresses the need for alternative impact metrics in academia, though it is incremental as it builds on existing readership data discussions.
The chapter examines the use of download and reference manager data, such as from Mendeley, for evaluating research impact and library collections, highlighting their potential but noting issues like lack of quality control and manipulability.
Reading academic publications is a key scholarly activity. Scholars accessing and recording academic publications online are producing new types of readership data. These include publisher, repository, and academic social network download statistics as well as online reference manager records. This chapter discusses the use of download and reference manager data for research evaluation and library collection development. The focus is on the validity and application of readership data as an impact indicator for academic publications across different disciplines. Mendeley is particularly promising in this regard, although all data sources are not subjected to rigorous quality control and can be manipulated.