ResearcherID (Web of Science) - Detailed Review

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ResearcherID (Web of Science) - Detailed Review Contents
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    ResearcherID (Web of Science) - Product Overview



    Introduction to ResearcherID (Web of Science)

    ResearcherID, part of the Web of Science ecosystem, is a unique identifier system designed to address the issue of author identification and correct attribution in scientific and academic literature.

    Primary Function

    The primary function of ResearcherID is to provide a unique and persistent identifier for researchers, allowing them to claim and link their published works accurately. This helps in disambiguating authors with similar names and ensures that each researcher’s publications are correctly attributed to them.

    Target Audience

    The target audience for ResearcherID includes researchers, academics, and scientists across various disciplines. It is particularly useful for those who publish frequently and need to maintain an accurate and up-to-date record of their publications.

    Key Features



    Unique Identifier
    Each researcher is assigned a unique identifier, which can be used to link their publications across the Web of Science ecosystem, including Web of Science, Publons, and InCites.

    Author Disambiguation
    ResearcherID helps solve author identity issues by distinguishing between researchers with the same or similar names, ensuring correct attribution of works.

    Publication Tracking
    Researchers can use their ResearcherID to track their publications, citation metrics, and other research outputs in one place. This includes dynamic citation metrics from the Web of Science Core Collection and other metadata.

    Integration with ORCID
    ResearcherID is integrated with ORCID, allowing researchers to keep their ORCID profile up to date by linking it to their ResearcherID on Publons. This facilitates the exchange of information between the two systems, reducing manual errors.

    Profile Management
    Researchers can manage their profiles, which include their publications, key research areas, and citation metrics. This profile can be used to facilitate collaborations, align research goals, and provide access to research for students and beginners.

    Web of Science Ecosystem
    ResearcherID is fully integrated across Web of Science collections, Publons profiles, and InCites, providing a comprehensive view of a researcher’s contributions and impact. By using ResearcherID, researchers can ensure accurate attribution, streamline their publication tracking, and enhance their visibility within the global research community.

    ResearcherID (Web of Science) - User Interface and Experience



    User Interface of the Web of Science ResearcherID

    The user interface of the Web of Science ResearcherID is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly, focusing on clarity and ease of use.



    Key Features

    • Unique Identifier: Each researcher is assigned a unique Web of Science ResearcherID, which helps differentiate them within the Web of Science ecosystem. This ID is used across various Web of Science Group products, including Web of Science, Publons, and InCites.
    • Author Profiles: Users can create and manage their own researcher profiles, which include their publication lists, institutional affiliations, and citation metrics. These profiles are marked with a green check mark once claimed by the author.
    • Search Functionality: The interface allows users to search for authors by their ResearcherID, ORCID, name, keywords, address, or institution. This facilitates easy access to author information and publication records.
    • Publication Management: Researchers can manage their publication lists, add or remove publications, and ensure that their work is accurately attributed to them. This helps in resolving author identity issues and maintaining up-to-date citation metrics.


    Ease of Use

    • Clear Navigation: The interface is structured to make it easy for users to find and manage their author records. The “Researchers” tab in Web of Science allows users to search and claim their author records, ensuring that their information is accurate and up-to-date.
    • User Control: Users have full control over the privacy of their profiles and publication lists, allowing them to decide what information is publicly available. This includes the ability to share their personal publication URL and manage their profile’s visibility.
    • Integration with Other Tools: The ResearcherID integrates seamlessly with other tools like ORCID, Publons, and EndNote, making it easy to keep all professional information synchronized across different platforms.


    Overall User Experience

    • Accessibility: The interface supports Unicode (UTF-8) standards, enabling researchers worldwide to conduct searches and upload publication lists in any language. This makes the platform accessible to a global community of researchers.
    • Dynamic Updates: Citation metrics and other metadata are updated automatically within the Web of Science Core Collection, ensuring that users have the most current analytical research information.
    • Feedback Mechanism: Researchers can provide feedback to ensure proper attribution of their work, enhancing the accuracy and reliability of the data presented.

    In summary, the Web of Science ResearcherID interface is designed to be straightforward, accessible, and highly functional, making it easier for researchers to manage their professional profiles and publication records efficiently.

    ResearcherID (Web of Science) - Key Features and Functionality



    Web of Science ResearcherID

    The Web of Science ResearcherID is a unique identifier system designed to address the issue of author identification and correct attribution in scientific and academic literature. Here are the main features and functionalities of ResearcherID, along with its benefits and any relevant integration with AI:



    Unique Identifier

    • Each researcher is assigned a unique and persistent ResearcherID, which helps differentiate authors with similar names or initials and corrects misspellings in author names.


    Claiming and Managing Publications

    • Researchers can claim their published works and link them to their ResearcherID, ensuring accurate attribution and keeping their publication list up to date and online.


    Integration with Other Platforms

    • ResearcherID is integrated with Publons, a platform where researchers can track their publications, peer-reviewing activity, and journal editing work. This integration allows for a comprehensive view of research output in one place.
    • It is also integrated with ORCID, enabling data exchange between these databases. This ensures that all platforms linked to the ResearcherID and ORCID are accurate and up-to-date.


    Web of Science Core Collection

    • The ResearcherID is used within the Web of Science Core Collection to match and disambiguate researchers across different products like Web of Science, InCites, and EndNote. This helps in solving author identity issues and ensuring correct attribution.


    Citation Metrics and H-Index

    • Researchers can manage their publications, track citation counts, and calculate their h-index using their ResearcherID on the Web of Science Researcher Profiles platform.


    Dynamic Updates

    • Linking the ResearcherID to other platforms like ORCID and institutional repositories (e.g., NURO) ensures that all research outputs are accurately reflected and updated automatically. This includes automatic claiming of new articles that match the ID.


    Search and Collaboration

    • The unique identifier facilitates searches for authors and their publications, making it easier for researchers to find collaborators and stay informed about the latest developments in their field.


    AI Integration

    While the primary features of ResearcherID do not directly involve AI, the integration with other platforms that use AI can indirectly benefit researchers. For example:

    • The integration with Publons, which is part of Clarivate Analytics, may leverage AI in various ways, such as enhancing search functionality or providing personalized recommendations, although these specific AI functionalities are not detailed in the context of ResearcherID itself.
    • The broader ecosystem of Web of Science and related tools may utilize AI for tasks like data analysis, citation tracking, and author disambiguation, but these are not specific features of ResearcherID.

    In summary, while ResearcherID itself does not explicitly incorporate AI, its integration with other platforms that do use AI can enhance the overall research experience and efficiency for researchers.

    ResearcherID (Web of Science) - Performance and Accuracy



    Performance of ResearcherID (Web of Science)

    The ResearcherID system, integrated into the Web of Science, is designed to address the issue of author identification and correct attribution of scientific works. Here are some key aspects of its performance:

    Author Disambiguation

    ResearcherID effectively solves the problem of author misidentification by assigning a unique identifier to each researcher. This helps in accurately attributing publications to the correct authors, even when there are multiple authors with the same name or similar initials.

    Data Accuracy and Consistency

    The system ensures that personal information and citation details are standardized across different platforms. This improves search accuracy and helps in maintaining a consistent and up-to-date publication list for each researcher.

    Integration with Other Tools

    ResearcherID is integrated with other tools such as Publons, ORCID, and Web of Science Core Collection. This integration allows researchers to keep their publication lists and citation metrics updated across multiple platforms. It also enables the transfer of data between these systems, ensuring consistency and reducing the need for manual updates.

    User Experience

    Researchers can easily claim their author records, add publications, and manage their profiles. The system also allows users to log in to Web of Science and EndNote using their ResearcherID, making it convenient to organize and track their literature.

    Limitations and Areas for Improvement



    User Adoption

    Despite its benefits, ResearcherID has a relatively lower number of users compared to other author identifiers like Scopus and ResearchGate. This is partly because it is not automatically coded, and users need to register manually.

    Coverage

    ResearcherID has a smaller coverage compared to other profiling sites like Google Scholar. While it is more accurate, it does not include full papers or multiple access links, which might limit its utility for some researchers.

    Automatic Registration

    One area for improvement is the implementation of automatic registration for ResearcherID. Currently, researchers need to register manually, which can be a barrier to wider adoption.

    Data Inconsistencies

    Although ResearcherID improves data accuracy, there can still be inconsistencies, such as spelling errors in authors’ names or incorrect attribution of papers. These issues need to be addressed through continuous updates and corrections.

    Conclusion

    ResearcherID is a valuable tool for ensuring accurate author identification and citation tracking within the Web of Science ecosystem. Its performance is enhanced by its integration with other academic tools and its ability to standardize data. However, it faces challenges in user adoption and coverage, and there is room for improvement in terms of automatic registration and reducing data inconsistencies. By addressing these limitations, ResearcherID can become an even more effective tool for researchers.

    ResearcherID (Web of Science) - Pricing and Plans



    The Pricing Structure for ResearcherID

    The pricing structure for ResearcherID, which is part of the Web of Science tools, is not explicitly outlined in terms of different tiers or plans, as it is not a standalone product with varying subscription levels. Here are the key points to consider:



    Free Registration

    Registration for a Web of Science ResearcherID is free. This unique identifier connects authors to their publications across the Web of Science ecosystem, including Web of Science, Publons, and InCites.



    Features

    The main features of a Web of Science ResearcherID include:

    • Connecting authors to their publications across the Web of Science ecosystem.
    • Solving author identity issues and ensuring correct attribution.
    • Adding dynamic citation metrics from the Web of Science Core Collection and other metadata to publication records.
    • Linking to ORCID to keep author profiles up to date.


    Access Requirements

    To use the full functionality of the Web of Science ResearcherID, including accessing detailed metrics and publication records, a subscription to Web of Science is required. The Web of Science Researcher API, which provides programmatic access to author records, also requires a paid license in addition to a Web of Science subscription.



    Summary

    In summary, while the basic registration for a Web of Science ResearcherID is free, accessing the full range of features and data typically requires a subscription to Web of Science or other related products. There are no multiple tiers or plans specifically for the ResearcherID itself.

    ResearcherID (Web of Science) - Integration and Compatibility



    The Web of Science ResearcherID

    The Web of Science ResearcherID is a unique identifier that integrates seamlessly with various research platforms and tools, ensuring accurate attribution and updating of a researcher’s profile across different systems.



    Integration with ORCID

    One of the key integrations is with ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID). You can connect your ORCID account to your Web of Science ResearcherID through the ORCID Syncing tab in your Profile Settings. This connection allows you to grant Web of Science permission to update your ORCID works and record. Once linked, you can manually or automatically sync your publications and peer reviews between the two platforms, ensuring that both profiles remain up-to-date.



    Compatibility Across Web of Science Group Products

    The Web of Science ResearcherID is fully integrated across various Web of Science Group products, including Web of Science, Publons, InCites, and EndNote. This integration helps in matching and disambiguating researchers across these platforms, ensuring correct attribution and adding dynamic citation metrics to publication records.



    Integration with Other Research Profiles

    You can also link your Web of Science ResearcherID to other research profiles such as Scopus ID and NURO (Newcastle University Research Online). This linking ensures that all your research outputs are accurately reflected and up-to-date across these platforms. For instance, linking your Web of Science ResearcherID to NURO allows articles matching your ID to be automatically added to your profile or alerts you via email when new matches are found.



    Managing Publications and Citation Metrics

    The ResearcherID allows you to manage your publications, track citation counts, and calculate your h-index within the Web of Science Researcher Profiles platform. You can add publications manually or import them from other sources, ensuring a comprehensive and accurate record of your scholarly work.



    Author Disambiguation

    The Web of Science ResearcherID helps solve author identity issues by providing a unique identifier that differentiates researchers with similar names. This ensures that publications are correctly attributed to the right author, even in cases of name changes or changes in institutional affiliations.



    Conclusion

    In summary, the Web of Science ResearcherID is a versatile tool that integrates well with other research identifiers and platforms, ensuring accurate and up-to-date records of a researcher’s work across multiple systems.

    ResearcherID (Web of Science) - Customer Support and Resources



    For Customers Using the Web of Science ResearcherID

    Several support options and additional resources are available to ensure a smooth and effective experience.



    Customer Support



    Technical Support

    • For technical support, users can visit the Global Customer Support Center page, where they can open a ticket for customer, product, and technical issues. This page also provides telephone numbers and hours of operation.


    General Inquiries

    • Users can also contact the support team through the “Contact Us” page for general inquiries and assistance.


    Additional Resources



    Help Files and Guides

    • Help Files and Guides: The Web of Science provides comprehensive help files that can be saved to your computer for offline access. These files contain all the help topics created for the product, ensuring you have detailed information at your fingertips.


    Author Identifiers Table

    • Author Identifiers Table: This feature allows you to view a list of researchers who have claimed a publication using their Web of Science ResearcherID or ORCID identifiers. This table is accessible on any article record and helps in correctly attributing publications to the right authors.


    Profile Management

    • Profile Management: Users can manage their researcher profiles on Publons, where they can add publications, track citations, and ensure their publications are correctly attributed across Web of Science collections. Linking your Web of Science ResearcherID to your ORCID on Publons helps keep your ORCID up to date.


    Updating Publications

    • If you need to update your publications, any changes made to your profile are processed within 3 days. For InCites data, updates are reflected once a month, so there may be a short delay before your publications are linked to your Web of Science ResearcherID in InCites searches.

    By utilizing these resources, researchers can effectively manage their profiles, ensure correct attribution of their works, and access the support they need to use the Web of Science ResearcherID efficiently.

    ResearcherID (Web of Science) - Pros and Cons



    Advantages of ResearcherID (Web of Science)



    Unique Identification

    A ResearcherID is a unique identifier that helps differentiate researchers with the same or similar names, ensuring correct attribution of publications and citations.



    Publication Profile

    It allows researchers to build a comprehensive publication profile, which can include publications, keywords describing their research, affiliations, and URLs for websites and blogs. This profile can be linked to Web of Science, enabling the generation of citation metrics from the Web of Science Core Collection.



    Citation Metrics and Author Records

    Having a ResearcherID helps in ensuring that author records are accurate and up-to-date. It allows researchers to claim their author records, add publications, and view dynamic citation metrics. This also facilitates the integration of these metrics into other platforms like Publons and InCites.



    Integration with ORCID

    ResearcherID can be linked to ORCID, making it easier to keep both profiles updated. This integration helps in maintaining consistency across different author identification systems.



    Search and Collaboration

    It speeds up the search for colleagues and their work, making it easier for researchers to find and collaborate with others in their field.



    Disadvantages of ResearcherID (Web of Science)



    Commercial Ownership

    ResearcherID is provided by a commercial firm, Clarivate (previously Thomson Reuters), which might raise concerns about data ownership and potential future changes in the service, including the possibility of it no longer being free.



    Limited Scope

    The ResearcherID is primarily restricted to publications indexed in the Web of Science, which may not cover all the publications or outputs of a researcher. In contrast, ORCID can be associated with outputs from any publisher and includes datasets, equipment, media stories, experiments, patents, and notebooks.



    Automatic Author Records

    While an author record is automatically created when a researcher has a publication in Web of Science, there is a possibility that multiple author records might be created for the same researcher or that some publications might be linked to another researcher. This requires manual intervention to correct.



    Dependency on Web of Science

    The full benefits of ResearcherID are realized within the Web of Science ecosystem. Researchers who do not frequently publish in journals indexed by Web of Science might find the utility of ResearcherID limited compared to more universally applicable identifiers like ORCID.

    ResearcherID (Web of Science) - Comparison with Competitors



    ResearcherID (Web of Science)

    • Unique Identifier: ResearcherID is a unique identifier that helps solve author identity issues and ensures correct attribution of publications. It links researchers to their publications across the Web of Science, Publons, and InCites platforms.
    • Integration: It is integrated with ORCID, allowing researchers to keep their ORCID profiles up to date by linking it to their ResearcherID on Publons.
    • Citation Metrics: It provides dynamic citation metrics from the Web of Science Core Collection and other metadata to publication records.
    • Platform Specific: It is primarily used within the Web of Science ecosystem and is not an AI-driven tool itself, but rather a database management system for author identification and publication tracking.


    AI-Driven Research Tools



    Scite

    • AI-Powered Citations: Scite uses AI to analyze the context of citations, showing whether a citing paper supports, contradicts, or mentions the original article. It also provides citation reports and context analysis.
    • Large Dataset: Scite is trained on over 187 million articles, making it a comprehensive tool for citation analysis.
    • Different Focus: Unlike ResearcherID, Scite focuses on the analysis of citations rather than author identification.


    Consensus

    • AI-Powered Search: Consensus uses GPT-4 to search through millions of academic publications, providing unbiased and accurate information. It generates concise summaries of top research findings and categorizes consensus among research.
    • Comprehensive Summaries: It offers study snapshots and consensus graphs, which are not features of ResearcherID.
    • Broad Application: Consensus is useful for researchers, content creators, and anyone needing reliable scientific literature information.


    Other Tools

    • LitMaps, Inciteful, Connected Papers: These tools help in visualizing literature maps, finding related papers, and organizing literature reviews. They do not focus on author identification but rather on the organization and discovery of research papers.


    Key Differences

    • Purpose: ResearcherID is primarily for author identification and correct attribution, while AI-driven tools like Scite and Consensus focus on citation analysis, literature mapping, and comprehensive search capabilities.
    • Integration: ResearcherID is tightly integrated with the Web of Science ecosystem, whereas AI tools like Scite and Consensus operate independently but can be used in conjunction with various research databases.
    • Technology: ResearcherID relies on database management, whereas tools like Scite and Consensus leverage AI to analyze and summarize research content.
    In summary, while ResearcherID is essential for managing author identities and publications within the Web of Science, AI-driven tools like Scite and Consensus offer advanced features for analyzing and discovering research content, making them complementary rather than direct alternatives.

    ResearcherID (Web of Science) - Frequently Asked Questions

    Here are some frequently asked questions about the Web of Science ResearcherID, along with detailed responses:

    What is a Web of Science ResearcherID?

    A Web of Science ResearcherID is a unique identifier that connects you to your publications across the Web of Science ecosystem, including Web of Science, Publons, and InCites. It helps solve author identity issues and ensures correct attribution of your works.



    How do I get a Web of Science ResearcherID?

    You can obtain a Web of Science ResearcherID by creating or claiming your author profile on the Web of Science platform. This involves logging in, verifying your identity, and claiming your publications. If you already have a profile, you can find your ResearcherID on your profile page.



    What are the benefits of having a Web of Science ResearcherID?

    Having a Web of Science ResearcherID helps in several ways:

    • It solves author identity issues by uniquely identifying you.
    • It ensures correct attribution of your publications.
    • It allows you to add dynamic citation metrics from the Web of Science Core Collection to your profile.
    • It helps keep your ORCID up to date by linking it to your ResearcherID.
    • You can manage your publication list, peer review records, and editorial activities.


    How do I add or remove publications from my Web of Science ResearcherID profile?

    To add publications, you can use several methods:

    • Use the “Suggested publications” feature based on your name and email.
    • Manually add publications using identifiers like DOI, Web of Science accession number, arXiv, or PubMed ID.
    • Import your publication history from another platform by uploading a file in RIS, CSV, or BibTex format.
    • Sync with your ORCID record.

    To remove publications, go to the “Publications” section of your profile, locate the paper you wish to delete, and click the “Delete” button.



    Can I link my Web of Science ResearcherID with my ORCID?

    Yes, you can link your Web of Science ResearcherID with your ORCID. This integration allows you to keep your ORCID up to date automatically by syncing data between the two systems. You can authorize this connection during the initial setup or later through your profile settings.



    How often are updates to my publications processed?

    Updates to your publications are processed within 3 days for the Web of Science. However, InCites data is updated once a month, so there may be a short delay before your publications are linked to your ResearcherID in InCites searches.



    What information is included in the Authors Identifiers table?

    The Authors Identifiers table on any article record includes the Web of Science ResearcherID and ORCID of all authors who have claimed the publication. This table helps in identifying and verifying the authors associated with a particular publication.



    Can I manage my peer reviewer and editor activities with my Web of Science ResearcherID?

    Yes, you can manage your peer reviewer and editor activities through your Web of Science ResearcherID profile. This includes tracking your peer review records and editorial board memberships in journals indexed by Web of Science.



    How do I ensure my Web of Science ResearcherID profile is accurate and up-to-date?

    To ensure your profile is accurate and up-to-date, regularly review and update your publication list, add any missing works, and verify that all your information is correct. You can also link your ORCID to ensure automatic updates.



    Are Web of Science ResearcherIDs unique to each researcher?

    Yes, Web of Science ResearcherIDs are unique identifiers assigned to each researcher. This uniqueness helps in disambiguating authors with similar names and ensures that each researcher’s publications are correctly attributed to them.

    ResearcherID (Web of Science) - Conclusion and Recommendation



    Final Assessment of ResearcherID (Web of Science)



    Purpose and Benefits

    ResearcherID, introduced by Thomson Reuters Corporation in 2008 and now integrated with Clarivate Analytics’ Publons, is a unique identifier system aimed at resolving author identification and attribution issues in scientific and academic literature. This system allows researchers to claim their published works, link them to their unique ResearcherID, and maintain an accurate and up-to-date publication list online.



    Key Features

    • Author Disambiguation: ResearcherID helps solve the problem of authors with the same name or initials, ensuring correct attribution of works.
    • Integration with Other Tools: It is integrated with Web of Science, Publons, and ORCID, enabling seamless data exchange and updating of profiles across these platforms.
    • Comprehensive Profile: Researchers can showcase their publication history, peer review activities, and journal editing work in one place.
    • Citation Metrics: It provides dynamic citation metrics from the Web of Science Core Collection, enhancing the visibility of a researcher’s work.
    • Collaboration and Networking: It facilitates collaborations by helping researchers identify potential colleagues and track citations within their discipline.


    Who Would Benefit Most

    • Researchers Across Various Disciplines: Particularly those in fields like Physical Science, Social Science, Arts, and Humanities, where author identification is crucial.
    • Academics and Scholars: Those who need to maintain a clear and accurate record of their publications and contributions.
    • Students and Beginners: It helps them explore connections within their discipline and track citations, making it easier to engage with the research community.


    Recommendation

    Using ResearcherID is highly recommended for researchers who want to ensure accurate attribution of their work and maintain a comprehensive online profile. Here are some key points to consider:

    • Ease of Use: The registration process is straightforward, and the system is user-friendly, allowing researchers to update their profiles easily.
    • Integration: The integration with ORCID and other Web of Science products makes it a valuable tool for managing one’s research output and contributions.
    • Community Engagement: It fosters collaborations and helps researchers connect with colleagues in their field.

    However, it’s worth noting that ResearcherID is proprietary, which might be a consideration for some researchers who prefer non-proprietary options like ORCID. Despite this, having both ResearcherID and ORCID can be beneficial due to their complementary features.

    In summary, ResearcherID is a valuable tool for any researcher looking to streamline their publication tracking, enhance their visibility, and facilitate collaborations within the academic community.

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