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How many scientific papers are mentioned in policy-related documents? An empirical investigation using Web of Science and Altmetric data

Author

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  • Robin Haunschild

    (Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research)

  • Lutz Bornmann

    (Administrative Headquarters of the Max Planck Society)

Abstract

In this short communication, we provide an overview of a relatively newly provided source of altmetrics data which could possibly be used for societal impact measurements in scientometrics. Recently, Altmetric—a start-up providing publication level metrics—started to make data for publications available which have been mentioned in policy-related documents. Using data from Altmetric, we study how many papers indexed in the Web of Science (WoS) are mentioned in policy-related documents. We find that less than 0.5% of the papers published in different subject categories are mentioned at least once in policy-related documents. Based on our results, we recommend that the analysis of (WoS) publications with at least one policy-related mention is repeated regularly (annually) in order to check the usefulness of the data. Mentions in policy-related documents should not be used for impact measurement until new policy-related sites are tracked.

Suggested Citation

  • Robin Haunschild & Lutz Bornmann, 2017. "How many scientific papers are mentioned in policy-related documents? An empirical investigation using Web of Science and Altmetric data," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 110(3), pages 1209-1216, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:110:y:2017:i:3:d:10.1007_s11192-016-2237-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-016-2237-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Haunschild, Robin & Bornmann, Lutz, 2016. "Normalization of Mendeley reader counts for impact assessment," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 10(1), pages 62-73.
    2. Katrin Weller, 2015. "Social Media and Altmetrics: An Overview of Current Alternative Approaches to Measuring Scholarly Impact," Springer Books, in: Isabell M. Welpe & Jutta Wollersheim & Stefanie Ringelhan & Margit Osterloh (ed.), Incentives and Performance, edition 127, pages 261-276, Springer.
    3. Lutz Bornmann & Robin Haunschild & Werner Marx, 2016. "Policy documents as sources for measuring societal impact: how often is climate change research mentioned in policy-related documents?," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 109(3), pages 1477-1495, December.
    4. Lutz Bornmann & Robin Haunschild, 2016. "How to normalize Twitter counts? A first attempt based on journals in the Twitter Index," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 107(3), pages 1405-1422, June.
    5. Henk F. Moed & Gali Halevi, 2015. "Multidimensional assessment of scholarly research impact," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 66(10), pages 1988-2002, October.
    6. Hanan Khazragui & John Hudson, 2015. "Measuring the benefits of university research: impact and the REF in the UK," Research Evaluation, Oxford University Press, vol. 24(1), pages 51-62.
    7. Lutz Bornmann, 2015. "Alternative metrics in scientometrics: a meta-analysis of research into three altmetrics," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 103(3), pages 1123-1144, June.
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    Cited by:

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    3. Yashan Li & Jinge Mao & Lin Zhang & Dongbo Wang & Si Shen & Ying Huang, 2022. "How scientific research incorporates policy: an examination using the case of China’s science and technology evaluation system," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 127(9), pages 5283-5306, September.
    4. Zhichao Fang & Rodrigo Costas & Wencan Tian & Xianwen Wang & Paul Wouters, 2020. "An extensive analysis of the presence of altmetric data for Web of Science publications across subject fields and research topics," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 124(3), pages 2519-2549, September.
    5. Houqiang Yu & Xueting Cao & Tingting Xiao & Zhenyi Yang, 2020. "How accurate are policy document mentions? A first look at the role of altmetrics database," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 125(2), pages 1517-1540, November.
    6. Bornmann, Lutz & Haunschild, Robin & Adams, Jonathan, 2019. "Do altmetrics assess societal impact in a comparable way to case studies? An empirical test of the convergent validity of altmetrics based on data from the UK research excellence framework (REF)," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 13(1), pages 325-340.
    7. Bornmann, Lutz & Haunschild, Robin, 2018. "Normalization of zero-inflated data: An empirical analysis of a new indicator family and its use with altmetrics data," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 12(3), pages 998-1011.
    8. Cui Huang & Chao Yang & Jun Su, 2018. "Policy change analysis based on “policy target–policy instrument” patterns: a case study of China’s nuclear energy policy," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 117(2), pages 1081-1114, November.
    9. Knut Blind & Alex Fenton, 2022. "Standard-relevant publications: evidence, processes and influencing factors," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 127(1), pages 577-602, January.
    10. Lu Liu & Benjamin F. Jones & Brian Uzzi & Dashun Wang, 2023. "Data, measurement and empirical methods in the science of science," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 7(7), pages 1046-1058, July.
    11. Dorte Drongstrup & Shafaq Malik & Naif Radi Aljohani & Salem Alelyani & Iqra Safder & Saeed-Ul Hassan, 2020. "Can social media usage of scientific literature predict journal indices of AJG, SNIP and JCR? An altmetric study of economics," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 125(2), pages 1541-1558, November.
    12. Samantha Vilkins & Will J. Grant, 2017. "Types of evidence cited in Australian Government publications," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 113(3), pages 1681-1695, December.

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