Individual, or personal level metrics aim to measure an individual researchers impact using quantitative, citation based metrics. The range of metrics available at individual level is quite extensive and ever increasing and DCU provides access to some of the leading bibliometric tools in order to generate personal reports on an individual's bibliometric profile. Some of the most common personal metrics are listed below, starting with the simplest and least sophisticated.
Whilst the methodology for all these metrics is transparent and consistent across all the major bibliometric platforms (some are "Snowball" metrics, see side panel for a fuller explanation), anomalies still arise due to different underlying datasets (Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar all index different ranges of titles) and so the answer to the question "What is my h-Index?" is invariably "Which one?".
In terms of functionality, Scopus provides an individual author with the most automated snapshot of their profile. Indeed, you do not actually need to create a Scopus profile at all, you just need to published at least one article in a Scopus indexed title. Scopus will do the rest, and provided that you are careful with your author name variations and your affiliation (or use your ORCID*), it will continue to add newly indexed output to your profile.
Click here to watch a video about how author profiles work in Scopus.
See also the Scopus guide 'Ace your Scopus author profile in 5 fast steps'.
*The single most important thing you can do to avoid name, affiliation, or any other author ambiguity is to register and use your ORCID. Details on how to that here.
a picture of an author in Web of Science it is necessary to use the author's publication set (in Web of Science) as a proxy. This is fine, after all when we talk about an 'author' profile in bibliometrics we are really taking about the profile of their documents anyway, but means additional work to get that profile.
See below for a short video on searching for an author's document set in Web of Science. Once you have a result set for particular author you will need to select all individual publications and then click on "Create Citation Report"...
In Scopus, we saw that author profiles are automatically created, and in Web of Science it was optional (at least temporarily whenever required). Google Scholar does not create a profile for you either, but for all intents and purposes they are essential (if you wish to use Scholar for personal bibliometrics).
Fortunately, profile creation in Scholar is a very straightforward and not at all time consuming. What's more once your profile is created, it remains yours and will (somewhat like Scopus) automatically update as Scholar indexes new material. To create your own Scholar profile, click on "Get My Own Profile" on the Scholar results screen...
An advantage to Scholar is that it much more comprehensive in its coverage, both in terms of item type (articles, books, chapters, conferences) and discipline, so it can give a more thorough and accurate picture for those who remain underserved by Scopus and Web of Science. This advantage is though also a potential disadvantage. Scopus and Web of Science index less because that indexing is curated by humans. Scholar is a black box, which indexes all material it deems scholarly. It is incumbent of the individual to ensure everything included in their profile is original, scholarly, and properly attributed. In short, you've got to be able to stand over your Google Scholar profile!
"Snowball Metrics are designed to facilitate crossinstitutional benchmarking globally by ensuring that research management information can be compared with confidence. In agreeing a set of robust and consistent definitions for tried-and-tested Snowball Metrics across the entire spectrum of research activities, higher education institutions are establishing a trusted and reliable foundation for benchmarking and evidence-based strategic decision making."
Source: Snowball Recipe Book