This guide is intended to provide scholars with an introduction to measuring research impact.  There are several methods used to measure research impact. This guide covers common measures such as author impact, journal impact, article impact, book impact and alternative metrics.  The guide also explores the values, limitations, and appropriate usage for each research impact metric. 

Additionally, this guide outlines the benefits of having a research identity and how to create and update research identifiers on various platforms.  

Why measure research impact? 

Measuring how your research impacts a field or discipline and how it impacts the world around you, can: 

• Help support your application for tenure or promotion  
• Strengthen a research grant application   
• Identify how your research is being used  
• Connect you with potential collaborators 

For more information, contact your Liaison Librarian.

The Tri-Campus Scholarly Communications Committee maintains the content in this guide, which is updated on an annual basis. For questions, comments, or suggestions, please contact copyright@library.utoronto.ca