How to examine research, publication, and citation metrics?

Ellen Boeren

Chapter 7 in How to Read and Interpret University Rankings, 2026, pp 82-96 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Research forms the backbone of international university rankings. QS, THE, and ShanghaiRankings extensively draw on publication data to arrive at their rankings. This chapter introduces the reader to the data sources and analytical platforms they use for these purposes, distinguishing QS's and THE's use of Scopus from Shanghai's use of Web of Science. It provides an overview of the wider spectrum of metrics such as citations, the role of subject-level metrics, the h-index, impact factors, and the importance of publishing with international co-authors. It also provides details on time reference periods used by compilers to capture citation counts. Given the contested nature of league tables and the overreliance on bibliometrics, the latter part of this chapter introduces the ‘Leiden ranking’, an alternative publication league table that aims to communicate research performances in a transparent and responsible way.

Keywords: Bibliometrics; Citations; Publications; Journals; University rankings; Leiden ranking (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035333455
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