Altmetrics: complexities, challenges and new forms of measurement and understanding of scientific communication in the social web

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/biblios.2017.358

Keywords:

Altmetrics, Bibliometrics, Scientific Communication, Scientific Indicators, Scientometrics, Social Web

Abstract

Objective. It aims to discuss some aspects of altmetria, an area commonly associated with metrics such as bibliometrics, scientometrics and webometrics, but with important differences in order to contribute to its own understanding, institutionalization and consolidation.

Method. The article is a theoretical approach on the subject altmetria, being elaborated from a set of texts selected in international databases. The selected bibliography subsidized critical and reflexive analyzes on the subject.

Results. The text brought reflections on the altmetria and its theoretical foundation, seeking to discuss the definition of the area, its relation with other metric studies of information and the complexities and challenges related to the production and use of altmetric indicators.

Conclusions. The area has great potential, but it needs more reflection, in-depth analysis and discussion about its theoretical foundations. There are uncertainties related to the institutionalization of the area and controversies about the possibilities of the indicators to measure the "impact" of academic production.

Author Biographies

João de Melo Maricato, Universidade de Brasília – UnB

Professor na Faculdade de Ciência da Informação (FCI), Universidade de Brasília (UnB).

Dalton Lopes Martins, Universidade Federal de Goiás - UFG

Professor na Faculdade de Informação e Comunicação (FIC), Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG).

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Published

2018-01-12

How to Cite

Maricato, J. de M., & Martins, D. L. (2018). Altmetrics: complexities, challenges and new forms of measurement and understanding of scientific communication in the social web. Biblios Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, (68), 48–68. https://doi.org/10.5195/biblios.2017.358

Issue

No. 68 (2017)

Section

Review

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