Library Help: Office For Open Research

What are author level metrics?

Author-level metrics (sometimes called individual metrics) aim to assess the cumulative influence of your research over time. These indicators offer insights into the visibility, reach, and scholarly impact of your work.

Common author-level metrics include:

• Citation counts (total number of times your work has been cited)

• h-index (a measure combining productivity and citation impact)

• Field-normalised metrics (e.g. FWCI, CNCI)

• Citation trends and patterns

These metrics can help you to describe how your research is cited and recognised across academic platforms.

Why use author-level metrics?

Author metrics can be useful for:

• Showcasing research impact
  They can offer a high-level overview of how your body of work is contributing to your field.

• Supporting funding or promotion cases
  They can provide standardised evidence of sustained influence and productivity over time.

However, author metrics should never be used in isolation or to compare individuals across disciplines. The University of Manchester is committed to responsible use of metrics in line with the DORA declaration and other sector standards.

Where can I find author-level metrics?

Here are some recommended platforms to explore your individual research metrics:
 

Scopus

• Offers author profiles with metrics including:

  • Total citations

  • h-index

  • Citation trends over time

• Helps you track output and citations at a global level 

Access your profile via Scopus Author Search; if one doesn’t exist, you can request to create or correct it.
 

Web of Science (WoS)

• Provides an Author Impact Profile, featuring:

  • h-index

  • Citation counts

  • Metrics per publication

Search for your name using the “Author” search option and explore your metrics from the author record page.
 

Scite

• Uses AI summaries to show how your work is being cited:

  • Supporting, contrasting, or neutral mentions

  • Which parts of your work are cited (e.g. methods, results)

• Offers a personalised dashboard once you create a free account

Sign up and link your publications to explore enhanced citation context.

Additional platforms for deeper analysis

For broader insights and benchmarking, use these research intelligence tools:
 

Scival (based on Scopus data)

• Provides field-weighted metrics like FWCI, and collaboration indicators

• Allows custom analysis of groups of publications

Use the “Researchers and Groups” module to locate your profile and view detailed metrics.
 

Incites (based on Web of Science data)

• Offers author-level metrics including CNCI, h-index, and citation percentiles

• Supports benchmarking within your field or institution

Log in and use “Researcher Metrics” to search for your name and explore performance indicators.
 

Further support

If you're unsure which platform to use or how to interpret your data, we can help.

• Contact the Office for Open Research

We offer tailored advice on:

• Navigating author profiles across platforms

• Understanding metric strengths and limitations

• Using indicators responsibly in CVs, grant applications, or internal reviews