Library Research Support

When using Elements you will come across a number of quantitative research metrics. The information below explains the metrics and provides links to further information.

Responsible metrics refers to the appropriate and responsible use of citation-based metrics, altmetrics and other quantitative measures in the assessment and evaluation of research.

It is important to understand the limitations of the metrics that can be found in Elements and any other research metrics, and to use them for appropriate purposes.  

For more information, please see our pages about responsible metrics.

When looking at the full details of one of your scholarly or creative work in Elements you may will see a Metrics box as part of the description.  

The information in the box usually defaults to showing you metrics relating to the individual publication.

If present, you can click on the Altmetrics icon (known as the Altmetrics donut) to see more detail about social media and similar attention to the publication. Please read our web page about altmetrics for more information.

You may also see citation counts from databases; Dimensions, EPMC (Europe PMC), Scopus and WoS (Web of Science).  This page about tracking citations to your work provides more information about these and how to use them.

For journal articles, when you viewing the full details of an article, the 'Metrics' section will include a link to view journal metrics.

If this present, it will show you the SNIP and SJR metrics which relate to the journal in which your article was published. 

Journal bibliometrics should not be used for any purpose other than comparing journals – they are not a way to measure the quality or impact of the articles in the journal or the authors of those articles.  Please see this information about DORA and the pages on this guide about responsible metrics.

The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) is a set of recommendations for funding agencies, institutions, publishers, researchers and other stakeholders, to improve practices in research assessment.

Sheffield Hallam University signed DORA on the 7th May 2019.

DORA is about using quantitative indicators (metrics) responsibly.  The key recommendation is not to use journal level metrics as a surrogate measure of the quality of individual research articles, or an individual academic’s contributions to their field, or for hiring, promotion, and funding decisions. While DORA focuses on eliminating the inappropriate use of journal metrics, it also covers more general issues with the use of metrics.

You can read the declaration including the recommendations on the DORA website.

We also recommend that you read the SHU guide to responsible metrics, which provides the SHU community with a set of principles outlining good practice in research assessment and the use of quantitative indicators.

If you have any questions about metrics and research assessment, please contact the Library Research Support Team:

• Email: library-research-support@shu.ac.uk
• Call: (0114) 225 3852