Can Web citations be a measure of impact? An investigation of journals in the life sciences

Authors

L. Vaughan, Vaughan, L.; Faculty of Information and Media Studies, University of Western Ontario, London, Ont. N6A 5B7, Canada; email: lvaughan@uwo.caFollow
D. Shaw

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

1-1-2004

Volume

41

Journal

Proceedings of the ASIST Annual Meeting

First Page

516

URL with Digital Object Identifier

https://doi.org/10.1002/meet.1450410160

Last Page

526

Abstract

We examine traditional and Web citations to journal articles in biology and genetics. There is significant correlation between citations in these two formats. Journals with higher numbers of Web citations tend to have more citations indicating intellectual impact (citations from papers or class readings, in contrast to citations from bibliographic services or the author's or journal's home page). Web citations show a broader geographic coverage and capture a greater number and variety of uses of journal articles.