Abstract
An important and timely plenary session at the 2015 UKSG Conference and Exhibition focused on the role of metrics in research assessment. The two excellent speakers had slightly divergent views.Todd Carpenter from NISO (National Information Standards Organization) argued that altmetrics aren’t alt anymore and that downloads and other forms of digital interaction, including social media reference, reference tracking, personal library saving, and secondary linking activity now provide mainstream approaches to the assessment of scholarly impact. James Wilsdon is professor of science and democracy in the Science Policy Research Unit at the University of Sussex and is chair of the Independent Review of the Role of Metrics in Research Assessment commissioned by the Higher Education Funding Council in England (HEFCE). The outcome of this review will inform the work of HEFCE and the other UK higher education funding bodies as they prepare for the future of the Research Excellence Framework. He is more circumspect arguing that metrics cannot and should not be used as a substitute for informed judgement. This article provides a summary of both presentations.
Highlights
Metrics are a vital element in the exchange of information
Those engaged in the altmetrics community have spent the past five years talking about new types of assessment metrics, getting people excited about the term, excited about what it means, and the potential of altmetrics
There have been eight conferences focused on alternative metrics and there are at least four organizations focused on providing alternative-style metrics
Summary
Based on summaries of two presentations from the 38th UKSG Annual Conference, Glasgow, March 2015. The outcome of this review will inform the work of HEFCE and the other UK higher education funding bodies as they prepare for the future of the Research Excellence Framework (REF). He is more circumspect, arguing that metrics cannot and should not be used as a substitute for informed judgement. Todd Carpenter’s session focused on the work that the National Information Standards Organization (NISO) is undertaking to look at new forms of assessment.
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