Abstract

In this paper we review the socalled altmetrics or alternative metrics. This concept raises from the development of new indicators based on Web 2.0, for the evaluation of the research and academic activity. The basic assumption is that variables such as mentions in blogs, number of twits or of researchers bookmarking a research paper for instance, may be legitimate indicators for measuring the use and impact of scientific publications. In this sense, these indicators are currently the focus of the bibliometric community and are being discussed and debated. We describe the main platforms and indicators and we analyze as a sample the Spanish research output in Communication Studies. Comparing traditional indicators such as citations with these new indicators. The results show that the most cited papers are also the ones with a highest impact according to the altmetrics. We conclude pointing out the main shortcomings these metrics present and the role they may play when measuring the research impact through 2.0 platforms.

Abstract

The objective of our study is to measure the visibility of the Spanish press in Menéame, the most important social content manager in Spanish, during 2007 and the first quarter of 2008. To this end, the number of news items published in Menéame is counted and averaged with votes and comments received, focusing on the evolution of the five media with a greater presence; finally, the obtained ranking is contrasted with that of OJD Interactiva. The most represented newspaper is El País, followed at a certain distance by El Mundo and 20minutos and, farther behind, La Vanguardia and El Periódico de Catalunya.