DataCite as a novel bibliometric source: Coverage, strengths and limitations
Journal
Journal of Informetrics
Journal Volume
11
Journal Issue
3
Pages
841-854
Date Issued
2017-08
Author(s)
Abstract
© 2017 Elsevier Ltd This paper explores the characteristics of DataCite to determine its possibilities and potential as a new bibliometric data source to analyze the scholarly production of open data. Open science and the increasing data sharing requirements from governments, funding bodies, institutions and scientific journals has led to a pressing demand for the development of data metrics. As a very first step towards reliable data metrics, we need to better comprehend the limitations and caveats of the information provided by sources of open data. In this paper, we critically examine records downloaded from the DataCite's OAI API and elaborate a series of recommendations regarding the use of this source for bibliometric analyses of open data. We highlight issues related to metadata incompleteness, lack of standardization, and ambiguous definitions of several fields. Despite these limitations, we emphasize DataCite's value and potential to become one of the main sources for data metrics development.
Subjects
Bibliometric sources | Data citations | Data infrastructure | Data metrics | Data sharing | DataCite | Open data; Computer Science - Digital Libraries; Computer Science - Digital Libraries
Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
Description
Paper accepted for publication in Journal of Informetrics
Type
journal article