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3 years ago in Scholarly Communication By Madhu B

Beyond citation counts, what are some meaningful alternative metrics (altmetrics) I can use to demonstrate the societal impact of my humanities research?

My research on public memory engages communities outside academia. Traditional citation metrics feel inadequate to show this reach. I’m preparing a tenure dossier and want to compellingly demonstrate impact through public engagement, policy references, or media uptake. What altmetrics are most respected in humanities evaluations?

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By Varun Answered 2 months ago

Yes, there are a few key scholarly traditions. The French-Belgian school (think Joep Leerssen) is foundational, focusing on analyzing national character stereotypes within European literary texts. The Central European school has a stronger historical and philological approach. More recently, the Dutch line has been influential in applying imagology to postcolonial and intercultural studies, examining the power dynamics and politics behind representations of the "Other." Which one you lean on depends on whether your focus is literary history, philology, or power/culture.

By Jahnvi Answered 3 weeks ago

In the humanities, where impact is often cultural and discursive, I advise looking at qualitative altmetrics. Track mentions in reputable news outlets, citations in policy documents or white papers, and invitations to speak for public or governmental bodies. Downloads and reads on platforms like Academia.edu or your institutional repository can show interest. Importantly, document influence: for instance, a curator citing your work in an exhibition catalog. In my tenure file, I included a short narrative alongside these metrics, explaining how each item demonstrated a pathway from research to public discourse. This combination of data and narrative is more persuasive than numbers alone, showing committees you understand and can articulate the real-world resonance of your scholarship.

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