Library Help: Office For Open Research

What is FWCI?

Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) is a metric used to indicate the impact of a research paper, journal, or author relative to the average for its field. Unlike traditional citation counts, which simply tally the number of citations a publication has received, FWCI compares the citation count of a publication to the expected number of citations for similar papers in the same field, publication type, and year.

An FWCI value of 1.00 means that the publication has been cited exactly as expected for its field, while values greater than 1.00 indicate that the publication has had a greater impact than the average, and values less than 1.00 suggest it has received fewer citations than expected.

Why is FWCI useful?

FWCI offers a more nuanced way of evaluating research impact by accounting for differences in citation practices across disciplines, publication types, and time. It can be used to:

1. Compare Across Disciplines: Citation practices vary greatly between fields, with some disciplines having higher citation rates than others. FWCI normalises citation data, allowing for fairer comparisons of research impact across diverse fields of study. For instance, research in high-citation fields like biomedicine may naturally have higher citation counts than research in fields like humanities, making FWCI a valuable tool for comparison.

2. Contextualise Citation Impact: FWCI considers the age and type of a publication as well as the subject area, providing a more contextually informed evaluation of a paper’s influence. It accounts for factors like the publication’s subject field, its type (e.g., journal article, conference paper), and its time frame, which citation counts alone cannot provide.

3. Better understand reach and influence: Unlike raw citation counts, FWCI allows researchers, institutions, and publishers to assess the reach and influence of their work relative to the global academic community. An FWCI score above 1.00 is a strong indication that a piece of research is having an impact beyond what would be expected in its specific context.

4. Benchmark: FWCI can be used to benchmark the impact of large groups or institutions in the same field. It can offer some useful indications around which research areas or outputs are performing well. 

How is FWCI Calculated?

FWCI is calculated by dividing the total citation count of a publication by the expected citation count for that publication, which is based on the average citation rate for similar publications within the same field and year. In other words, it measures how many citations a paper receives compared to what is typical for its discipline, publication type, and time period.

The formula for FWCI is:

• FWCI > 1.00 indicates that the paper has received more citations than expected for its field.
• FWCI = 1.00 means the paper has received the expected number of citations for its field.
• FWCI < 1.00 means the paper has received fewer citations than expected for its field.

Platforms for FWCI

1. SciVal:

   • SciVal is a key platform provided by Elsevier for calculating FWCI. It aggregates citation data from Scopus and normalises it for field, publication type, and time, allowing users to see how their research or institution’s output compares to others in terms of citation impact. SciVal provides detailed analysis of FWCI at the level of individual papers, authors, or entire institutions.
      

2. Scopus:

   • While SciVal offers more advanced metrics and visualisation tools, Scopus also provides access to FWCI for individual articles. Scopus allows you to see the citation impact relative to similar papers, though SciVal offers more in-depth analysis and reporting.

How to find FWCI in SciVal

To find the FWCI for a specific paper, author, or institution in SciVal, follow these steps:

1. Log In to SciVal:

   • Access SciVal 
   • In order to access SciVal you will need to register for an account with Elsevier. You must use your University of Manchester email address and credentials in order to do this.  Once you have registered the tool can be accessed from www.scival.com 
      

2. Search for your papers:

   • You will need to locate your author profile within SciVal. Use the Explore function, then select Researchers & Groups. You will need to use the Create/Import option to locate your profile if you do not already have this saved within SciVal.
      

3. View the FWCI:

   • Once your profile is visible you will, SciVal will display an overall FWCI value, showing how all of your papers compare to others in the same field and time frame. Use the View list of publications option to view FWCI details for individual papers.
      

4. Interpret the Results:

   • An FWCI of 1.00 means the paper has received an average number of citations for its field. An FWCI greater than 1.00 shows that the paper has exceeded the expected citation count, while an FWCI below 1.00 indicates that it has received fewer citations than average.
      

5. Explore Additional Metrics:

   • SciVal offers more comprehensive analyses, such as citation trends over time and comparisons to peers or similar institutions. These metrics can provide additional context for understanding the significance of the FWCI score.

Further Reading

For a detailed guide on how FWCI works and how to use it within SciVal, Elsevier provides a helpful resource:

• Elsevier's FWCI Guide

This guide walks you through the process of accessing and interpreting FWCI data in SciVal. If you require further guidance please contact the Office for Open Research.