How can I benchmark and compare research metrics?
Answer
What are benchmarking and comparison metrics?
In a research indicators context, benchmarking refers to comparing the performance of one entity—such as a university, faculty, department, or research group—against peers or defined standards. When used carefully, benchmarking can highlight strengths, identify opportunities for collaboration, and show relative standing within the global research landscape.
For example, benchmarking could be used to explore how the University of Manchester’s citation performance in Climate Science compares with other members of the Russell Group, or to see how interdisciplinary research in AI aligns with global trends.
How do I access benchmarking data?
Benchmarking and comparison features are available in both Elsevier and Clarivate tools (SciVal and InCites.)
Using SciVal:
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Use the Compare option – select All metrics
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In the Entities panel, choose the groups you want to compare.
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The University of Manchester can be found under the Institutions and Groups tab.
For detailed guidance, please see Elsevier’s support article - Benchmark and monitor progress using SciVal
Using InCites:
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InCites allows benchmarking across institutions, countries, journals, and fields based on Web of Science data
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Metrics include Category Normalised Citation Impact (CNCI), Highly Cited Papers, and collaboration rates
- Please see here for links to relevant guidance provided by Clarivate.
Responsible use of benchmarking data
Benchmarking metrics can offer valuable insights—but they must always be interpreted with caution and used in line with responsible metrics principles.
Key points to consider:
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Comparisons must be contextualised. Metrics vary by discipline, career stage, and database.
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No single metric tells the whole story. Use multiple indicators alongside qualitative evidence (e.g. peer review, narrative CVs).
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Benchmarking should never be used to rank individuals or draw conclusions without appropriate nuance.
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Data sources (e.g. Scopus vs Web of Science) may yield different results—choose platforms that best suit your purpose.
For more on responsible metrics, see our guide to the responsible use of metrics.
Need support?
The Research Indicators team can help you design appropriate benchmarking exercises, interpret results, and ensure your analysis is both meaningful and responsible.
Please contact us to find out more.