Academic perspectives on bibliometrics in a leading UK research university

Abstract

In today’s information-driven society, researchers often face challenges when navigating the vast resources available to support their careers. They typically rely on bibliographic databases while conducting literature reviews or searching for potential publication venues. However, they often overlook additional opportunities for publishing, finding collaborative partners, and exploring relevant topics. Bibliometrics, the field that analyses publications, employs various techniques to evaluate research trends, assess scientific impact, and discover funding and grant opportunities that can help researchers go beyond their needs. Bibliometrics methods can be instrumental in the career development of researchers, enhancing the impact, visibility, and quality of their work. Despite the significant benefits of bibliometrics for researchers, many of them do not fully utilise bibliometric tools. A fear of an over-reliance on quantitative data is one of the main reasons for this. To gain a deeper understanding of researchers’ perceptions of bibliometrics, this study conducted ten online interviews with academics and research staff at the University of Leeds, a research-intensive university. NVIVO software was used for qualitative data analysis and coding. Based on the analysis of the interviews, participants discussed three key themes: Journal Impact Factor, bibliometric concerns, and the use of bibliometrics for publication analysis. According to the responses, there is a significant polarisation between the potential and concerns of bibliometrics. Promoting the benefits of bibliometrics for researchers requires raising awareness through education and training. It is important to emphasise how bibliometrics can support career development and to combine bibliometrics with other metrics. Utilising real-world scenarios in bibliometrics training sessions can engage researchers and empower them to become active learners. Additionally, sharing case studies or success stories of researchers and institutions that have effectively used bibliometrics can illustrate its positive impact on career advancement, research output, and collaborative efforts. Highlighting these examples can motivate others to leverage bibliometrics in their own work.

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