Rating and Ranking the Role of Bibliometrics and Webometrics in Nursing and Midwifery

Abstract

Background. Bibliometrics are an essential aspect of measuring academic and organizational performance. Aim. This review seeks to describe methods for measuring bibliometrics, identify the strengths and limitations of methodologies, outline strategies for interpretation, summarise evaluation of nursing and midwifery performance, identify implications for metric of evaluation, and specify the implications for nursing and midwifery and implications of social networking for bibliometrics and measures of individual performance. Method. A review of electronic databases CINAHL, Medline, and Scopus was undertaken using search terms such as bibliometrics, nursing, and midwifery. The reference lists of retrieved articles and Internet sources and social media platforms were also examined. Results. A number of well-established, formal ways of assessment have been identified, including h- and c-indices. Changes in publication practices and the use of the Internet have challenged traditional metrics of influence. Moreover, measuring impact beyond citation metrics is an increasing focus, with social media representing newer ways of establishing performance and impact. Conclusions. Even though a number of measures exist, no single bibliometric measure is perfect. Therefore, multiple approaches to evaluation are recommended. However, bibliometric approaches should not be the only measures upon which academic and scholarly performance are evaluated.

Career development tips for today's nursing academic: bibliometrics, altmetrics and social media

“…Considering that bibliometrics comprises an essential aspect for measuring academic performance in nursing (Davidson et al . ), ranking journals using citation‐based methods not only has precedent but also offers certain practical advantages. First, bibliometric information is convenient, extensive and readily available from a variety of databases, such as the Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar; among others.…”

Análisis bibliométrico de la producción científica, indizada en MEDLINE, sobre los servicios de salud proporcionados por las unidades de hospitalización a domicilio

“…Si bien, cuando se considera aisladamente, se podría argumentar que es altamente reduccionista, una puntuación cuantitativa, numérica, que no es representativa del rendimiento o la capacidad de un investigador. Sin embargo, la bibliometría tiene una gran utilidad, porque en términos pragmáticos representa una fuente de datos precisos y de obtención relativamente simple (5).…”

Knowledge of journal impact factors among nursing faculty: a cross-sectional study

“…In a previous study utilizing focus groups, interviews, and a survey [18], health professional and nursing participants identified their top three criteria for choice of publication venue as readership, reputation of the journal, and length of time to publication. Evidence suggests that while “the process and politics of bibliometrics” [19] cannot be avoided, it is important to choose a journal based on its subject, scope, and audience in addition to whether it is peer-reviewed and possibly open access [20]. Nursing scholars are encouraged to understand the “nature of impact” and have dialogues “about the ways in which review processes can account for the many ways the impact of research can be demonstrated” [21].…”