If I tweet will you cite later? Follow-up on the effect of social media exposure on article downloads and citations

Thomy Tonia (), Herman Van Oyen, Anke Berger, Christian Schindler and Nino Künzli
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Thomy Tonia: University Bern
Herman Van Oyen: Epidemiology and Public Health, Sciensano
Anke Berger: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute
Christian Schindler: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute
Nino Künzli: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute

International Journal of Public Health, 2020, vol. 65, issue 9, No 29, 1797-1802

Abstract: Abstract Objectives We previously reported that random assignment of scientific articles to a social media exposure intervention did not have an effect on article downloads and citations. In this paper, we investigate whether longer observation time after exposure to a social media intervention has altered the previously reported results. Methods For articles published in the International Journal of Public Health between December 2012 and December 2014, we updated article download and citation data for a minimum of 24-month follow-up. We re-analysed the effect of social media exposure on article downloads and citations. Results There was no difference between intervention and control group in terms of downloads (p = 0.72) and citations (p= 0.30) for all papers and when we stratified by open access status. Conclusions Longer observation time did not increase the relative differences in the numbers of downloads and citations between papers in the social media intervention group and papers in the control group. Traditional impact metrics based on citations, such as impact factor, may not capture the added value of social media for scientific publications.

Keywords: Social media; Citations; Downloads; Bibliometrics; Twitter; Facebook (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1007/s00038-020-01519-8

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