Measuring the scientific impact of e-research infrastructures: a citation based approach?

Koen Jonkers, G. E. Derrick, C. Lopez-Illescas and P. Besselaar
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G. E. Derrick: CSIC Institute for Public Goods and Policies
C. Lopez-Illescas: University of Extremadura
P. Besselaar: Vrije University van Amsterdam

Scientometrics, 2014, vol. 101, issue 2, No 17, 1179-1194

Abstract: Abstract This micro-level study explores the extent that citation analysis provides an accurate and representative assessment of the use and impact of bioinformatics e-research infrastructure. The bioinformatic e-research infrastructure studied offers common tools used by life scientists to analyse and interpret genetic and protein sequence information. These e-resources therefore provide an interesting example with which to explore how representative citations are as acknowledgements of knowledge in the life sciences. The examples presented here suggest that there is a relation between number of visits to these databases and number of citations; however, a parallel finding shows how citation analysis frequently underestimates acknowledged use of the resources offered on this e-research infrastructure. The paper discusses the implications of the findings for various aspects of impact measurement and also considers how appropriate citation analysis is as a measurement of knowledge claims.

Keywords: Citation analysis; Research infrastructure; Evaluation; Bioinformatics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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DOI: 10.1007/s11192-014-1411-7

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