Scientific datasets: Informetric characteristics and social utility metrics for biodiversity data sources

Abstract

The contribution places biodiversity datasets in relation to other central elements of the modern scientific communication system and defines quantitative analyses of metadata of such datasets as belonging to the intersection of Scientometrics and Webometrics. The analyses show that rank distributions of social utility evidence, such as search events and retrieved and viewed dataset records over a given range of datasets follow power law characteristics. A variety of dataset usage index (DUI) metrics is exemplified and illustrated by dataset indicators from three large, medium and small US and Danish dataset providers observed over a one-year period and compared to recent developments. Metrics discussed are of absolute as well as relative nature and include popularity, social attractiveness, and usage and interest impact scores.