What are article-level metrics and why are they important?

What are article-level metrics and why are they important?

Article-level metrics are quantitative measures that assess the impact and reach of individual research articles. They provide insights into how often an article is cited, shared, or downloaded, helping researchers and institutions evaluate the significance of their work.

Can you give me some examples of article-level metrics?

Sure! Common examples include citation counts, altmetrics (like social media shares), and download statistics from repositories.

How do these metrics differ from journal-level metrics?

Journal-level metrics assess the overall impact of a journal as a whole, while article-level metrics focus on individual articles, providing a more granular view of research impact.

Are there any limitations to using article-level metrics?

Yes, limitations include potential biases in citation practices, the influence of self-citations, and the fact that not all impactful articles are highly cited.