Do altmetrics correlate with the quality of papers? A large-scale empirical study based on F1000Prime data.

In this study, we address the question whether (and to what extent, respectively) altmetrics are related to the scientific quality of papers (as measured by peer assessments). Only a few studies have previously investigated the relationship between altmetrics and assessments by peers. In the first s...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lutz Bornmann, Robin Haunschild
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2018-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5965816?pdf=render
_version_ 1818164080590979072
author Lutz Bornmann
Robin Haunschild
author_facet Lutz Bornmann
Robin Haunschild
author_sort Lutz Bornmann
collection DOAJ
description In this study, we address the question whether (and to what extent, respectively) altmetrics are related to the scientific quality of papers (as measured by peer assessments). Only a few studies have previously investigated the relationship between altmetrics and assessments by peers. In the first step, we analyse the underlying dimensions of measurement for traditional metrics (citation counts) and altmetrics-by using principal component analysis (PCA) and factor analysis (FA). In the second step, we test the relationship between the dimensions and quality of papers (as measured by the post-publication peer-review system of F1000Prime assessments)-using regression analysis. The results of the PCA and FA show that altmetrics operate along different dimensions, whereas Mendeley counts are related to citation counts, and tweets form a separate dimension. The results of the regression analysis indicate that citation-based metrics and readership counts are significantly more related to quality, than tweets. This result on the one hand questions the use of Twitter counts for research evaluation purposes and on the other hand indicates potential use of Mendeley reader counts.
first_indexed 2024-12-11T16:59:46Z
format Article
id doaj.art-2fad1251d1904e71876a1af3d738887a
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1932-6203
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-11T16:59:46Z
publishDate 2018-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj.art-2fad1251d1904e71876a1af3d738887a2022-12-22T00:57:52ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032018-01-01135e019713310.1371/journal.pone.0197133Do altmetrics correlate with the quality of papers? A large-scale empirical study based on F1000Prime data.Lutz BornmannRobin HaunschildIn this study, we address the question whether (and to what extent, respectively) altmetrics are related to the scientific quality of papers (as measured by peer assessments). Only a few studies have previously investigated the relationship between altmetrics and assessments by peers. In the first step, we analyse the underlying dimensions of measurement for traditional metrics (citation counts) and altmetrics-by using principal component analysis (PCA) and factor analysis (FA). In the second step, we test the relationship between the dimensions and quality of papers (as measured by the post-publication peer-review system of F1000Prime assessments)-using regression analysis. The results of the PCA and FA show that altmetrics operate along different dimensions, whereas Mendeley counts are related to citation counts, and tweets form a separate dimension. The results of the regression analysis indicate that citation-based metrics and readership counts are significantly more related to quality, than tweets. This result on the one hand questions the use of Twitter counts for research evaluation purposes and on the other hand indicates potential use of Mendeley reader counts.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5965816?pdf=render
spellingShingle Lutz Bornmann
Robin Haunschild
Do altmetrics correlate with the quality of papers? A large-scale empirical study based on F1000Prime data.
PLoS ONE
title Do altmetrics correlate with the quality of papers? A large-scale empirical study based on F1000Prime data.
title_full Do altmetrics correlate with the quality of papers? A large-scale empirical study based on F1000Prime data.
title_fullStr Do altmetrics correlate with the quality of papers? A large-scale empirical study based on F1000Prime data.
title_full_unstemmed Do altmetrics correlate with the quality of papers? A large-scale empirical study based on F1000Prime data.
title_short Do altmetrics correlate with the quality of papers? A large-scale empirical study based on F1000Prime data.
title_sort do altmetrics correlate with the quality of papers a large scale empirical study based on f1000prime data
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5965816?pdf=render
work_keys_str_mv AT lutzbornmann doaltmetricscorrelatewiththequalityofpapersalargescaleempiricalstudybasedonf1000primedata
AT robinhaunschild doaltmetricscorrelatewiththequalityofpapersalargescaleempiricalstudybasedonf1000primedata