Google Scholar: Can it Really Be Used for Bibliometrics? by Isobel Stark and Michael Whitton, University of Southampton. Presentation at the Research Evaluation: Is It Our Business? The Role of Librarians in the Brave New World of Research Evaluation 29 June 2011, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston Campus.
Metrics are generally a higher number - Bibliometrics calculated on GS are generally higher than those calculated on (eg.) WoS, but this varies by discipline
Google Scholar *was* designed for bibliometrics, just not necessarily for g-index and h-index (it does citation counting
Quadsearch http://quadsearch.csd.auth.gr/index.php?lan=1&s=2 (i.e. the ‘Science’ search) Scholar H-index Calculator https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/45283 (add-on for the Mozilla Firefox browser, adds metrics to the standard Google Scholar site, easy to use but only calculates for the articles on the current page, a maximum of 100) Scholarometer http://scholarometer.indiana.edu/ (add-on for the Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome browsers – appears as a sidebar when installed) Publish or Perish http://www.harzing.com/pop.htm (application that calculates a wide variety of metrics
CVs – h-index increasingly mandated for Performance/Personal Development Reviews
BAR-ILAN, J. 2008. Which h-index? — A comparison of WoS, Scopus and Google Scholar. Scientometrics , 74, 257-271. JACSO, P. 2008. The pros and cons of computing the h-index using Google Scholar. Online Information Review, 32 , 437-452.
FRANCESCHET, M. 2009. A comparison of bibliometric indicators for computer science scholars and journals on Web of Science and Google Scholar. Scientometrics , 83, 243-258. Academics at University of Udine, high impact computer science journals LEVINE-CLARK, M. & GIL, E. 2009. A comparative analysis of social sciences citation tools. Online Information Review, 33, 986-996. Highly downloaded articles from Elsevier social sciences journals
LEE, J., KRAUS, K. L. & COULDWELL, W. T. 2009. Use of thehindex in neurosurgery. Journal of Neurosurgery, 111 , 387-392. Research outputs from 3 UK Business schools MINGERS, J. & LIPITAKIS, E. A. E. C. G. 2010. Counting the citations: a comparison of Web of Science and Google Scholar in the field of business and management. Scientometrics, 85 , 613-625. Random sample of academic neurosurgeons
Library Research Guides www.soton.ac.uk/library/research/bibliometrics Deskside Training 1-2-1 training for staff & research postgraduates Planned session for research postgraduates Delivered through the Graduate School training programme to compliment our Open Access, e-theses, Academic Copyright and Current Awareness sessions
Google Scholar’s subject classification is variable – fails to correctly classify some, thus reducing recall and therefore calculated h-index