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Quantitative publication metrics offer a relatively quick and seemingly concrete measure of research impact and are used widely in the assessment of academic health sciences research. However, metrics can lead to over-simplification and sometimes serve as direct proxies for impact at the expense of other valuable considerations.
Several efforts have led to frameworks that promote the application of assessment metrics as one important aspect of a broader assessment process.
Quantitative citation metrics (such as citation counts) should not be relied upon as the sole indicator of scientific impact, but instead serve as one aspect of a broader evaluation framework including peer review and other qualitative considerations.
The resources below provide examples of additional indicators that can provide insight into research impact beyond qualitative publication metrics.