Humanities and social sciences in the bibliometric spotlight – Research output analysis at the University of Vienna and considerations for increasing visibility

Abstract

A quantitative analysis of the longitudinal research output development in the humanities and social sciences at the University of Vienna examined a six-year period (2007–12). According to target agreements between the rectorate and the faculties, the language requirement was met successfully with an increase of the non-German language (particularly English language) output, especially in the social sciences. The results also show an increasing trend line regarding the percentage of peer-reviewed articles and of publications indexed in highly regarded databases like Arts & Humanities Science Index and the Social Sciences Citation Index. The number of publications with a Digital Object Identifier or in gold open-access journals is lower in the humanities than in the social sciences. Social sciences have so far been moving faster in order to increase their dissemination and visibility in the new digital and internet era. Further strategies are recommended in order to increase the international visibility of the research output in the humanities and social sciences.