What does it mean to have meaningful metrics in today’s complex higher education landscape? With a foreword by Heather Piwowar and Jason Priem, this highly engaging and activity-laden book serves to introduce readers to the fast-paced world of research metrics from the unique perspective of academic librarians and LIS practitioners. Starting with the essential histories of bibliometrics and altmetrics, and continuing with in-depth descriptions of the core tools and emerging issues at stake in the future of both fields, Meaningful Metrics is a convenient all-in-one resource that is designed to be used by a range of readers, from those with little to no background on the subject to those looking to become movers and shakers in the current scholarly metrics movement. Authors Borchardt and Roemer, offer tips, tricks, and real-world examples illustrate how librarians can support the successful adoption of research metrics, whether in their institutions or across academia as a whole.
Type of Material:
Open (Access) Textbook
Recommended Uses:
Can be used in-class or in small groups as discussion topics or for individual reading and written assignments.
Technical Requirements:
Adobe Reader
Identify Major Learning Goals:
Students will begin to prepare themselves to initiate and develop conversations about impact.
Students will understand what the terms bibliometrics and altmetrics means, their histories, and tools associated with them.
Student will be able to practically apply the information on bibliometrics and altmetrics when communicating with patrons.
Target Student Population:
Graduate School, Professional
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
This material is intended for librarians and LIS researchers. None are required, but some basic understanding of metrics and how they are used would make the topic more understandable.
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
The book offers an excellent overview on the topic of various metrics. It provides helpful scenarios and responses for working with faculty to assess the impact of their scholarship. It is not overly technical and appropriate for graduate students or practicing librarians.
Concerns:
As of this review (fall of 2020), the book is five years old and the tools mentioned will have changed and possibly new ones introduced. For example, it does not mention the tool Kudos which is normally mentioned with the topic of altmetrics. Also, links to some of the resources no longer work, and some no longer exist.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
The first chapter clearly states the intent of the book and how to use it. However, having learning objectives at the beginning of each chapter would be useful.
They have exercises throughout the book as well as ideas at the end of the chapters on how to continue to learn and practice the concepts.
You can learn a lot in a short amount of time. It is possible to read parts of the book without reading the whole text. However, if you are completely new to the topic, the book is organized to gradually teach you the various concepts. It does a good job with introducing concepts progressively and building on prior concepts as you move through the chapters.
Concerns:
Any detailed learning goals and assignments will have be developed by the instructor. The book isn't designed as a turn key approach to an instructional course on metrics.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
The book is easy to browse with clear chapter and section headings. The first chapter explicitly states how (not) to use the book.
For a book of its length, it is still interactive with activities spread throughout and descriptions of practical applications that one could replicate.
The book is professional looking. It has tables and other figures throughout the book when appropriate.
The authors did a nice job at the end of each chapter in providing a list of highly relevant "further resources", organized by the type of resource.
Concerns:
The text-heavy nature of the book, even with the features mentioned above, does require more careful reading than with more visually oriented learning objects. Again, some of the content may be outdated because of changes in the applications available for impact measurement.
Creative Commons:
Search by ISBN?
It looks like you have entered an ISBN number. Would you like to search using what you have
entered as an ISBN number?
Searching for Members?
You entered an email address. Would you like to search for members? Click Yes to continue. If no, materials will be displayed first. You can refine your search with the options on the left of the results page.
Searching for Members?
You entered an email address. Would you like to search for members? Click Yes to continue. If no, materials will be displayed first. You can refine your search with the options on the left of the results page.
