Institutional Repository Services

Statement on Metrical and Impact Data Tools, Including PlumX

Like other metrical and impact data tools, including Google Scholar, ResearchGate, Scopus, and Web of Science, PlumX gathers traditional and non-traditional metrics, including citations, usage counts, and social media mentions. With this data, PlumX provides reports to help faculty and programs tell the story of their research.

As a provider of PlumX and other metrical and impact data tools, the University Libraries offer the following statements:

• PlumX is provided solely as a service of the University Libraries.
   
• The University Libraries provide PlumX for informational purposes only to help identify trends in how research is discovered, accessed, and used; and to identify opportunities for increasing the visibility and impact of research.
   
• The accuracy and completeness of PlumX is impacted by many factors, including data collection methods, quality and completeness of data, and other technical and non-technical constraints (e.g., language).
   
• The University Libraries do not advocate or support exclusive use of any metrical tool, including PlumX, for evaluation or comparison of faculty or programs.
   
• The University Libraries encourage faculty and programs to be skeptical of all metrical tools and system-generated impact data, and to consider a wide array of usage and impact indicators when evaluating or comparing faculty or programs.

For help, contact the Digital Commons Team at digitalcommons@georgiasouthern.edu. A member of the Digital Commons Team will respond as soon as possible during regular business hours.