Mike J. Thelwall

Definition

Mike J. Thelwall is a prominent researcher known for his work on the impact and metrics of open science, particularly in relation to bibliometrics and altmetrics. He has significantly contributed to understanding how scholarly communication is changing with the advent of open access and the digital landscape, influencing how research impact is measured and evaluated.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Mike J. Thelwall has published extensively on the application of altmetrics to assess the impact of research beyond traditional citation measures.
2. He emphasizes the importance of using diverse metrics to capture the broader influence of research in public discourse and policy.
3. Thelwall's work highlights how open science practices can enhance collaboration and transparency within the research community.
4. He advocates for the use of social media as a legitimate platform for measuring scholarly impact, challenging conventional views on academic success.
5. Through his research, Thelwall has contributed to developing tools and frameworks that help researchers understand their visibility and impact in the digital age.

Review Questions

• How does Mike J. Thelwall's work contribute to our understanding of altmetrics in the context of open science?
  • Mike J. Thelwall's work is pivotal in explaining how altmetrics provide a broader view of research impact beyond traditional citations. He argues that altmetrics can reveal how research is discussed and engaged with in public domains, reflecting its real-world significance. By emphasizing online interactions, his research helps illustrate the evolving landscape of scholarly communication in an open science framework.
• What are some key challenges associated with measuring research impact as highlighted by Mike J. Thelwall?
  • Mike J. Thelwall identifies several challenges in measuring research impact, including the need for standardized metrics that accurately reflect both traditional citations and newer altmetric indicators. He also points out issues like the potential for bias in online engagement data and the difficulty of interpreting what these metrics truly mean for a researcher's influence. These challenges underscore the complexity of evaluating academic success in a rapidly changing digital environment.
• Evaluate how Mike J. Thelwall’s insights into open science and metrics could shape future research evaluation practices.
  • Mike J. Thelwall’s insights have the potential to revolutionize research evaluation practices by advocating for a more holistic approach that includes both quantitative metrics like citations and qualitative measures such as public engagement through social media. His emphasis on altmetrics encourages institutions to recognize diverse contributions that researchers make beyond traditional academic outputs. By integrating these insights into evaluation frameworks, academic institutions can foster a culture that values collaboration, transparency, and real-world impact in scientific research.

Related terms

Altmetrics: Alternative metrics that capture the impact of research outputs based on online activity and engagement, such as social media mentions, downloads, and views.

Bibliometrics: The statistical analysis of written publications, such as books and journal articles, used to assess research productivity and impact.

Open Access: A publishing model that allows free online access to scholarly articles, promoting wider dissemination of research findings.