Altmetrics measure the broader impact of scholarly research beyond citations by tracking mentions across social media, news, blogs, and policy documents. Altmetric.com provides a widely used tool for capturing and analyzing this online attention.

Why Use Altmetrics?

• Track Impact: See how your research is being discussed outside academic journals.
• Demonstrate Reach: Showcase the societal impact of your work.
• Strengthen Grant Applications: Funding agencies may value evidence of broad impact.

Step 1: Identify An Article’s Attention Score

To view an article’s attention score:

• Visit the Article Page: Go to the journal publisher’s website where your article is hosted.

If no score is visible:

• Install the Altmetric Bookmarklet: This free tool allows you to check scores directly in your browser. Click the bookmarklet and if an attention score exists, a colorful “donut” will appear with score details.

Additional Tracking Tools: You can also track attention for all your articles through free accounts on Dimensions and SAGE Policy Profiles (which capture publications from your ORCID profile). Lastly, Google Alerts can help monitor mentions of your name or institution.

Step 2: Understand the Components of the Score

Attention scores are calculated based on sources that reference the article’s DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or other unique identifiers. These sources include:

• Social Media: X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn, Reddit, BlueSky.
• News Outlets: Mentions in online news articles.
• Policy Documents: Citations in government or organizational reports.
• Reference Managers: Saves on Mendeley.
• Blogs: Mentions in academic or research blogs.

Each mention is assigned a weight based on its source. For a detailed breakdown of weight calculations, visit Altmetric’s data page.

Step 3: Interpret the Score

• Check the Number: Higher scores indicate greater online attention.
• Review the Breakdown: Click on the donut to access a full report detailing mentions, sources, and trends over time.
• Understand Donut Colors: Each color corresponds to a different mention type (e.g., blue for X, yellow for blogs). Hovering over the colors will reveal the source types.

Step 4: Use the Data

• Showcase Your Impact: Include your attention score in CVs, grant applications, and tenure materials. You can also mention notable sources that have cited your article, such as The New York Times or the World Health Organization. Additionally, consider sharing key details from your score, like “High Attention Score compared to outputs of the same age and source (96th percentile).”
• Engage with Mentions: Responding to discussions can further increase visibility.
• Track Mentions Over Time: Use publisher platforms to track changes in your score over time. On Altmetric.com, you can sign up to receive notifications when your article has new mentions using the button located on the right side of the page.

Do I need an account to see my attention score?

No, many publisher websites display the Altmetric donut publicly. If not, click the Altmetric Bookmarklet to view the free report.

Is a higher attention score always better?

Not necessarily. Context matters—mentions in policy documents or major news outlets may be more impactful than multiple tweets.

Can I track altmetrics for articles I didn't write?

Yes! The Altmetric Bookmarklet allows you to check scores for any article.

How can I increase my attention score for my articles?

Try promoting your work on social media, blogging about your research, or contacting media outlets. Impact takes time, and altmetrics are just one way to track reach.

Altmetrics are a valuable tool for understanding the attention your journal articles receive online. By following this guide, you can identify, interpret, and leverage altmetrics to describe the impact of your research beyond scholarly citations. Use publisher sites or tools like the Altmetric Bookmarklet to access your score and visualize your impact. For additional support, contact your UW subject librarian here or email uwlib-impact@uw.edu.