Self-tracking and metric codification in digital infrastructures for scholarly communication

TY - JOUR

T1 - Self-tracking and metric codification in digital infrastructures for scholarly communication

AU - Andersen, Jack

AU - Lomborg, Stine

PY - 2020/1/1

Y1 - 2020/1/1

N2 - We argue that the stakes of scholarly communication are changing as a result of technology-enabled ability to self-track and the enhanced provision and proliferation of instant metrics. These developments accentuate the role of the individual, and conversely underplay the collective effort, in the advancement of knowledge by focusing attention on metrics centered on the individual, professional performance, and communication directed at oneself. We suggest–in line with previous research–that metrics play an increasingly important role in configuring the scholarly communication system. But we also stress, unlike previous research, that metrics are embedded in larger communication contexts, or systems, that are already codified and ordered. Hence the discursive value ascribed to metrics must take into account these contexts. This has at least two benefits. One, we do not reduce scholarly communication to an issue of metrics and rewards, like scientometric studies and contemporary notions of the so-called quantified academic self, and two, a communication framework allows us to see new sorts of conversations going on and new modes of togetherness enabled alongside the digital nurturing of metric regimes.

AB - We argue that the stakes of scholarly communication are changing as a result of technology-enabled ability to self-track and the enhanced provision and proliferation of instant metrics. These developments accentuate the role of the individual, and conversely underplay the collective effort, in the advancement of knowledge by focusing attention on metrics centered on the individual, professional performance, and communication directed at oneself. We suggest–in line with previous research–that metrics play an increasingly important role in configuring the scholarly communication system. But we also stress, unlike previous research, that metrics are embedded in larger communication contexts, or systems, that are already codified and ordered. Hence the discursive value ascribed to metrics must take into account these contexts. This has at least two benefits. One, we do not reduce scholarly communication to an issue of metrics and rewards, like scientometric studies and contemporary notions of the so-called quantified academic self, and two, a communication framework allows us to see new sorts of conversations going on and new modes of togetherness enabled alongside the digital nurturing of metric regimes.

U2 - 10.1080/01972243.2019.1685039

DO - 10.1080/01972243.2019.1685039

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0197-2243

VL - 36

SP - 43

EP - 52

JO - Information Society

JF - Information Society

IS - 1

ER -