Q. What are Research Indicators?

Many indicators are used to benchmark research activities. These indicators should be used to inform and backup any discussion and analysis about research performance and achievement. These indicators should not be used as a substitute for expert judgment. For more information in the context of JCU, see the JCU Research Performance Model.

The types of metrics presented in this LibGuide are:

• Publication and citation metrics: these are widely used indicators of research performance and achievement.
• Journal metrics: must be used with caution because they are calculated as an average of the citation performance of a journal and do not provide a direct indication of the performance of individual research outputs or researchers.
• Collaboration metrics, altmetrics and public engagement: other indicators that can provide useful information.

Information used in this Library Guide is adapted from the following sources:

• JCU Research Performance Model 
• SciVal Metrics Guidebook

For more information about the JCU context, go to the JCU Research Performance Model (login with your JCU username and password).