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Michigan State University

Science Communication Guide

Resources to support the MSU science community in effectively sharing research with the academic, scientific, and public audiences.

Introduction to Research Impact

Icon of a desktop computer displaying graphs and chartsResearch impact is a term used to describe the influence of research. The scholarly community has developed various metrics to quantify impact at the author, article, and journal level. Dependent on the metric chosen, impact can be calculated based on engagement with the scholarly community or public at large. However, they are generally intended for understanding scholarly communications in a specific field such as High Energy Physics or Inorganic Chemistry.

Research Impact metrics, like the H-Index or Altmetrics, can help researchers demonstrate the influence of their research. Researchers can use the following toolkit to choose the best metrics to demonstrate their impact:

Understang Research Impact Metrics

Research impact metrics can be calculated asses all of the following units. Use the list below to explore the different types of impact metrics, their appropriate uses, and how they can benefit your understanding of scholarly communications in your field.

Online Research Profiles

Various online research profiles can assist published authors keep track of both author and article level metrics and notify you when your paper or work has been cited in a published source.

Researchers can track their metrics by creating an account with either of the following services: