How many scientific papers are mentioned in policy-related documents? An empirical investigation using Web of Science and Altmetric data

Robin Haunschild () and Lutz Bornmann ()
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Robin Haunschild: Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research

Scientometrics, 2017, vol. 110, issue 3, No 7, 1209-1216

Abstract: Abstract In this short communication, we provide an overview of a relatively newly provided source of altmetrics data which could possibly be used for societal impact measurements in scientometrics. Recently, Altmetric—a start-up providing publication level metrics—started to make data for publications available which have been mentioned in policy-related documents. Using data from Altmetric, we study how many papers indexed in the Web of Science (WoS) are mentioned in policy-related documents. We find that less than 0.5% of the papers published in different subject categories are mentioned at least once in policy-related documents. Based on our results, we recommend that the analysis of (WoS) publications with at least one policy-related mention is repeated regularly (annually) in order to check the usefulness of the data. Mentions in policy-related documents should not be used for impact measurement until new policy-related sites are tracked.

Keywords: Bibliometrics; Altmetrics; Policy documents; Policy-related mentions; Societal impact (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (15)

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DOI: 10.1007/s11192-016-2237-2

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