NISO RP-25-2016 Outputs of the NISO Alternative Assessment Metrics Project

Abstract

Altmetrics are increasingly being used and discussed as an expansion of the tools available for measuring the scholarly impact of research in the knowledge environment. The NISO Alternative Assessment Metrics Project was begun in July 2013 with funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to address several areas of limitations and gaps that hinder the broader adoption of altmetrics. This document, the output from the project, was created by three working groups.

  • “Working Group A” extensively studied the altmetrics literature and other communications and discussed in depth various stakeholders' perspectives and requirements for these new evaluation measures.
  • “Working Group B” created documents that are intended to help users better understand the landscape of data metrics and thus offer recommendations toward improvements, and to help organizations that wish to use altmetrics effectively communicate about them with each other and with those outside the community.
  • “Working Group C” studied and discussed issues of data quality in the altmetrics realm, an essential aspect of evaluation before metrics can be used for research and practical purposes.