Communication Faculty Publications and Presentations

Citations Gone #Social: Examining the Effect of Altmetrics on Citations and Readership in Communication Research

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-6-2019

Abstract

Altmetrics are a relatively new phenomenon in research. These metrics measure the attention that research articles receive from nontraditional venues such as social media and the Internet. This study examined how these metrics affect both the readership and citation of articles in communication research. The study examined citation data alongside altmetrics data from academic social networking sites ResearchGate and Mendeley, as well as mentions on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. Results indicated that all altmetrics positively correlated with citation. Posting articles on sites such as ResearchGate and Mendeley not only impacted readership, it increased the likelihood of citation. Other variables that improved readership and citation were social media mentions, downloadable articles, coauthorship, and an active online presence among scholars.

Comments

© The Author(s) 2019.

Publication Title

Social Science Computer Review

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1177/0894439319873563

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