Research Librarian, HSL Research and Education; Library Liaison for College of Medicine - Basic Science

In academic research, metrics are widely used to assess the influence and visibility of scholarly work. While citation-based metrics like the h-index remain important, they don’t always tell the whole story, especially in today’s fast-moving, online and interconnected world. That’s where altmetrics come in. Short for “alternative metrics,” altmetrics offer a broader view of how research is being shared, discussed and engaged with beyond traditional academic citations. But what exactly are altmetrics, how do they work and why should researchers care? Let’s explore.

What are altmetrics?

Altmetrics refer to non-traditional indicators of research impact that track attention and engagement across a wide range of online sources. This includes social media mentions, news stories, blog posts, policy documents, bookmarks and more. Unlike citation metrics, which often take years to accumulate, altmetrics can offer early insight into how research is being received and shared by academic and non-academic audiences alike.

For example, a journal article that is widely shared on social media or featured in a news outlet may quickly accumulate altmetric attention even if it hasn't yet been cited in scholarly publications. These indicators are especially relevant in fields like health sciences where timely dissemination of findings can have a real-world impact.

How are altmetrics calculated?

Altmetrics track how research outputs such as journal articles, datasets and other scholarly materials are shared, saved or discussed online. Two tools for viewing altmetric data are the Altmetric.com bookmarklet, which is free, and the PlumX Metrics available through the Scopus database (institutional access required).

• Altmetric.com bookmarklet
  This browser tool allows users to view altmetric data for individual articles. Once installed, the bookmarklet works on many publisher websites that support Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs). When used on a supported article, it displays the article’s altmetric donut, a colorful visual that shows attention from sources like news media, blogs, policy documents and social media platforms. The donut includes the Altmetric Attention Score, a numeric value that reflects the volume and reach of that attention, and links to more detailed data.
• PlumX Metrics in Scopus
  Scopus is a large interdisciplinary research database that includes journal articles, conference papers and other scholarly works. Many articles include a PlumX Metrics section that groups altmetric data into five categories: usage, captures, mentions, social media and citations. For example, “usage” includes views and downloads while “mentions” may include references in news, blogs or policy documents. PlumX Metrics also tracks Mendeley readers, Facebook and X mentions and citations from sources like Scopus, CrossRef, PubMed Central and Overton.

Altmetrics are most useful when paired with citation-based metrics to create a more complete picture of an article’s influence and reach.

What do altmetrics measure?

Altmetrics help researchers capture:

• Early attention: They reflect immediate interest in new research, often before citation counts emerge
• Public engagement: Altmetrics show how research is shared among policymakers, advocacy groups and the public
• Interdisciplinary impact: Articles that cross into public health, education or media often display more diverse altmetric signals
• Outreach effectiveness: Researchers active on social or public platforms can track how those efforts translate into measurable attention

What are some limitations of altmetrics?

Like all metrics, altmetrics have limitations:

• Susceptibility to hype: A high score doesn’t always indicate quality or rigor
• No peer-review filter: Altmetrics track attention, not accuracy
• Disciplinary variation: Altmetric activity varies by field and communication style
• Unclear tone: Metrics don’t distinguish between positive and negative coverage
• Platform coverage gaps: Some online activity may not be captured

Altmetrics should be interpreted in context and combined with other indicators for a more complete understanding of research impact.

How are altmetrics used in the health sciences?

In health sciences, where research often influences clinical care, public health policy and community awareness, altmetrics can help illustrate broad and immediate influence.

For example:

• A study on vaccine communication might appear in news media or policy briefs long before being cited academically
• A public health infographic might be widely shared by community organizations or on social platforms
• Research on rare diseases might attract attention from advocacy groups that reference or promote the findings

Altmetrics can also support CVs, grant proposals, biosketches and academic reviews by highlighting nontraditional forms of impact such as media presence, community engagement or policy influence.

Interested in learning more about research metrics?

The Ohio State University Health Sciences Library offers workshops, one-on-one consultations and an online guide, Measuring Scholarly Impact, with resources for finding and using both traditional and alternative metrics. We encourage you to register for a workshop or schedule a consultation with your college’s liaison librarian to learn more about how we can help!