# altmetrics

> study of alternative metrics for analyzing and informing scholarship

**Wikidata**: [Q14565201](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q14565201)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altmetrics)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/altmetrics

## Summary
Altmetrics is an academic discipline and major defined as the study of alternative metrics for analyzing and informing scholarship. It operates as a subclass of several quantitative fields, including bibliometrics, scientometrics, webometrics, and cybermetrics. Unlike traditional citation analysis, this field focuses on measuring the impact of scientific work through broader data sources, such as scientific journals and social networking services.

## Key Facts
*   **Definition:** Altmetrics is the study of alternative metrics for analyzing and informing scholarship.
*   **Academic Classification:** It is recognized as an instance of an academic discipline and an academic major.
*   **Hierarchical Lineage:** The field is a subclass of bibliometrics (statistical analysis of publications), scientometrics (measuring science and innovation), webometrics (quantitative web study), and cybermetrics.
*   **Practical Application:** Tools associated with this discipline are utilized within scientific journals and social networking services.
*   **Specific Metrics:** Key entities related to this field include the Altmetric Attention Score (measuring online attention) and the PlumX Metric.
*   **Standardization:** The field is indexed in the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) under descriptor ID D000097783 and tree codes L01.462.500.682.099.325.250 and L01.462.750.183.291.250.
*   **Knowledge Base IDs:** The concept is tracked by the YSO system (ID 29513) and the Open Science Thesaurus (ID MSM5HV40-F).
*   **Global Reach:** Wikipedia entries for the subject exist in at least 10 languages, including English, German, Spanish, Japanese, and Farsi.

## FAQs
### Q: How does altmetrics differ from traditional bibliometrics?
A: While bibliometrics focuses on the statistical analysis of written publications like books and articles, altmetrics is a subclass of this field that specifically utilizes alternative metrics, often drawing data from the web and social networking services to inform scholarship.

### Q: What are the parent fields of altmetrics?
A: Altmetrics is considered a subclass of four main fields: bibliometrics, scientometrics, webometrics, and cybermetrics.

### Q: What specific tools or scores are used in altmetrics?
A: The field utilizes specific measurement tools such as the Altmetric Attention Score, which quantifies online attention and coverage of scholarly articles, and the PlumX Metric.

## Why It Matters
Altmetrics matters because it addresses the limitations of traditional citation analysis by incorporating the speed and breadth of the digital world into the evaluation of scholarship. As a subclass of webometrics and scientometrics, it moves beyond the slow accumulation of citations in books and articles to analyze the quantitative aspects of information resources on the Web.

By including social networking services as a key use case, altmetrics provides a more immediate and comprehensive picture of how scientific research is consumed and discussed. This allows for the measurement of "online attention" and coverage that traditional metrics might miss, such as mentions in policy documents, social media discussions, or news outlets. It serves as a critical bridge between the rigid statistical history of bibliometrics and the modern, dynamic environment of Open Science, ensuring that the impact of innovation and technology is measured in real-time.

## Notable For
*   **Alternative Measurement:** Defining a specific field of study for "alternative metrics" rather than relying solely on traditional citation counts.
*   **Interdisciplinary Foundation:** Being a distinct academic discipline that simultaneously inherits characteristics from bibliometrics, scientometrics, webometrics, and cybermetrics.
*   **Digital Focus:** Shifting the focus of analysis to include "online attention" and social networking service data.
*   **Open Science Integration:** Being explicitly described by the Open Science Thesaurus and included in WikiProject Open access.

## Body

### Academic Classification and Hierarchy
Altmetrics is formally classified as an academic discipline and an academic major. It sits at the intersection of several quantitative analysis fields. It is a direct subclass of:
*   **Bibliometrics:** The statistical analysis of written publications, such as books or articles.
*   **Scientometrics:** The study of measuring and analysing science, technology and innovation.
*   **Webometrics:** The study of the quantitative aspects of the construction and use of information resources, structures and technologies on the Web.
*   **Cybermetrics:** A related class often associated with web-based quantitative analysis.

### Key Metrics and Entities
The study of altmetrics involves specific entities and tools designed to quantify scholarly impact in non-traditional ways.
*   **Altmetric Attention Score:** A specific "Thing" or metric defined as a score of online attention and coverage of scholarly articles.
*   **PlumX Metric:** Another recognized metric entity within this category.

### Standards and Identifiers
The field is formally recognized in major academic and knowledge indexing systems:
*   **MeSH (Medical Subject Headings):** Uses the Descriptor ID `D000097783` and is mapped to specific tree codes (`L01.462.500.682.099.325.250`, `L01.462.750.183.291.250`).
*   **Open Science Thesaurus:** Lists the concept under the ID `MSM5HV40-F`.
*   **General Systems:** Includes a YSO ID (`29513`) and an archived JSTOR topic ID (`altmetrics`).
*   **Microsoft Academic:** Previously tracked under ID `2778407487` (service discontinued).

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Altmetrics",
  "description": "Study of alternative metrics for analyzing and informing scholarship.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altmetrics",
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5431784"
  ],
  "additionalType": [
    "Academic Discipline",
    "Academic Major"
  ],
  "image": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Altmetrics.svg"
}

## References

1. [Source](http://data.loterre.fr/ark:/67375/TSO-MSM5HV40-F)
2. [Source](https://zenodo.org/records/12684249)
3. YSO-Wikidata mapping project
4. Quora
5. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)