This guide provides information and tools for measuring research impact, focusing on the use of citation metrics. Tabs above identify various tools which track citations and provide directions on how to find journal rankings, accredited lists, h-index and citation reports. Citation analysis assumes that research published in prestigious journals with high impact scores and research published by scientists who enjoy high impact ratings, will be cited more frequently than other research.
As much is at stake, it is important for a researcher to be aware of the tools that are available and what criteria are used to reach an answer that has both merit and validity. The aim of this guide is to:
Direct researchers towards citation analysis and journal evaluation tools to strengthen evidence of scholarly impact
Create awareness of how the library can support applicant in the NRF rating process
List the information resources and citation tools to enhance an NRF application
Show researchers how to gather evidence to demonstrate scholarly impact and reputation
Highlight the value and benefits of citation data in a research career
Indicate the role of the Unisa Library in increasing the global visibility of researchers
The NRF requires that all researchers and students applying for funding and rating at the NRF have an ORCID identifier. Please refer to the e-visibility Libguide for more information on ORCID.
Research papers generated from research either fully or partially funded by NRF, should deposit their final peer-reviewed manuscripts that have been accepted by the journals, to the administering Institution Repository.
NRF Statement on Predatory Journals & Deceptive Publishers
Due to contractual and licencing agreements, access to some content may be restricted to the Unisa community.
Inclusion in this LibGuide does not imply University or Library endorsement of the ideas expressed.
The University has a number of NRF rated researchers. The NRF rating system is a key driver in the NRF’s aim to build a globally competitive science system in South Africa. It is a valuable tool for benchmarking the quality of our researchers against the best in the world. NRF ratings are allocated based on a researcher’s recent research outputs and impact as perceived by international peer reviewers. The rating system encourages researchers to publish high quality outputs in high impact journals/outlets.
Research impact is an increasing important aspect in securing government funding for research activity, NRF rating, institutional ranking and the management of research output within the university sector. For a historical review and analysis of the NRF rating system, refer to the paper by Krige
The NRF rating system is a key driver in the NRF's aim to build a globally competitive science system in South Africa. It is a valuable tool for benchmarking the quality of our researchers against the best in the world. NRF Ratings are allocated based on a researcher's recent research outputs and impact as perceived by international peer reviewers. The rating system encourages researchers to publish high quality outputs in high impact journals or outlets. Rated researchers as supervisors will impart cutting-edge skills to the next generation of researchers.
The NRF rating of individual researchers is based primarily on the quality and impact of their research outputs over the past eight years, taking into consideration the evaluation made by local and international peers.