Tracking your publications

Measuring Research Reach and Impact

In order to help track and demonstrate the scale and reach of our research output, the University engages a number of research metrics and tools to assess and benchmark our research reach and impact.  

Research Publications Systems

University of Galway has a number of databases and systems to assist the research community track their research publication metrics and activities. 

CRIS University of Galway's Current Research Information System allows users to maintain, update and publicise their research profiles and activities using the Elsevier Pure System.

University of Galway Research Repository provides open access to publications, including peer-reviewed articles, conference papers, working papers, reports, and other scholarly communications by University of Galway researchers.

Scopus is the largest abstract and citation database of peer-reviewed literature: scientific journals, books and conference proceedings. 

SciVal is the interface tool for Scopus and enables you to visualize individual, subject level or institutional research performance, analyse research trends, benchmark relative to peers, and develop collaborative partnerships.

ORcid (Open Researcher and Contributor ID) is a non-proprietary alphanumeric code to uniquely identify scientific and other academic authors and contributors.

Research metrics are a range of primarily quantitative indicators of research performance, such as numerical or bibliographic measures of research output and quality. These include a variety of metrics such as citations of publications, and impact factor of journals, counts of publications with international collaborators etc. They tell one side of the story when it comes to research output – i.e. a numerical bibliographic picture. They do not replace peer-review assessment but can enhance context and provide insight. 

Download a copy of the Quick Reference for Research Impact Metrics or alternatively a more comprehensive guide on research metrics is available here. 

In keeping with the principle of Responsible Metrics, it is good practice to use a number of different metrics alongside qualitative indicators to ensure a more comprehensive assessment within context is performed. A single metric should never be used as a surrogate measure of the quality of research, but instead should be considered alongside a range of relevant research metrics, outputs and other types of qualitative factors. 

Please also bear in mind the following considerations when using Research Metrics:

• The databases that supply data for citation counting and bibliometric data differ in coverage, each indexing different journals and books. Hence results will vary depending on the data source used.
• Disciplines vary in their publication and citation practices. Certain disciplines have higher citation norms compared to others, and hence it is important to compare researchers within their discipline areas.
• Bibliometrics focus on measurement of citations, mostly in journal articles. Disciplines such as arts and humanities and social sciences rely less on journal publications and hence may be misrepresented by bibliographic metrics alone.
• Citation counting will automatically favour experienced researchers over those at an earlier stage in their career as they will have produced a greater number of outputs. Only researchers at similar career stages should be compared.
• Metrics include self-citing, so it is important to compare like with like.
• Keep in mind not all citations are positive - a paper may be cited because it is an example of ‘bad’ research.