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Google Scholar

Google Scholar. Can it really be used for bibliometrics?. Isobel Stark & Michael Whitton June 2011. Google Scholar. Historical background? Google Scholar released (in beta) in 2004 Not the first freely available citation database (CiteSeer, Scirus, etc) Not subject specific

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Google Scholar

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  1. Google Scholar Can it really be used for bibliometrics? Isobel Stark & Michael WhittonJune 2011

  2. Google Scholar • Historical background? • Google Scholar released (in beta) in 2004 • Not the first freely available citation database (CiteSeer, Scirus, etc) • Not subject specific • Is it a viable alternative to ‘traditional’ citation databases such as Web of Science?

  3. Pros of Google Scholar • Easy to access and free • Indexes a wide range of articles • Especially Law, Humanities, Social Sciences • Can find a wider range of metrics • Metrics are generally a higher number

  4. Cons of Google Scholar • Questionable data • Lack of de-duplication • Gaps • Relies on algorithms • Not designed for popular bibliometric measures • Requires add-ons to calculate h-index etc.

  5. Recommended services (h-index on GS) • Quadsearch (Any browser) • Scholar H-index Calculator (Mozilla Firefox) • Scholarometer (Mozilla Firefox/Google Chrome) • Publish or Perish (Separate Application)

  6. How our researchers use it • CVs and bids for funding • Preferred by Medicine over InCites • Factsheet for “Finding your h-index in Google Scholar” is very popular • 6,764 visits in the last year • To compare WoS h-Index guide is 1,559 and Impact Factors 1,045

  7. From the literature … • Bar-Illan (2008) – Israeli highly cited researchers • Significant differences from WoS and Scopus • Metrics can be higher (computer science), similar or lower (physics) • Jasco (2008) • Problems of missing & wrong authors • Prolific authors F Password & M Profile • Specific problems often resolved

  8. Subject specific studies • Franceshet (2009) – Computer Science • Google Scholar metrics are much higher • Significant correlation (but varies by type of metric) • Importance of proceedings • Levine-Clark (2009) – Social Sciences • Significant value of using Google Scholar in addition to WoS • Significant value in journals not indexed by WoS & coverage of books

  9. Subject specific studies … • Lee (2009) – Neurosurgery • Significant correlation between Google Scholar and Scopus • Mingers (2010) – Business & Management • Lack of reliability and transparency of Google Scholar, but potential for a more comprehensive and less subject dependant analysis.

  10. The h-index: WoS vs Google Scholar • Prof. Nigel Shadbolt (Computer Science) • WoS: 16 • Google Scholar: 23 • Dr Simon Coles (Chemistry) • WoS: 36 • Google Scholar 22

  11. The h-index: WoS vs Google Scholar … • Prof. Sally Brailsford (Management) • WoS: 9 • Google Scholar: 13 • Prof. Christian Ottensmeier (Medicine) • WoS: 19 • Google Scholar: 19

  12. The h-index: WoS vs Google Scholar … • Prof. Jane Falkingham(Social Sciences) • WoS: 7 • Google Scholar: 23 • Dr Joanna Sofaer (Archaeology) • WoS: 2 • Google Scholar: 9

  13. Supporting bibliometrics • 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

  14. Conclusions • Some variation by subject • Significant issues with quality of the data • Can be useful to use in addition to Web of Science and/or Scopus

  15. References • BAR-ILAN, J. 2008. Which h-index? — A comparison of WoS, Scopus and Google Scholar. Scientometrics, 74, 257-271. • 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. • JACSO, P. 2008. The pros and cons of computing the h-index using Google Scholar. Online Information Review, 32, 437-452.

  16. References … • LEVINE-CLARK, M. & GIL, E. 2009. A comparative analysis of social sciences citation tools. Online Information Review, 33, 986-996. • LEE, J., KRAUS, K. L. & COULDWELL, W. T. 2009. Use of the h index in neurosurgery. Journal of Neurosurgery, 111, 387-392. • 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.

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