Medical Journal of The Islamic Republic of Iran (MJIRI)
Iran University of Medical Sciences
Tue, Apr 28, 2026
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Volume 40, Issue 1 (1-2026)
Med J Islam Repub Iran 2026 |
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Torabi M, Hadavandsiri F, Kazemzadeh H, Goodarzi M. Academic Influencers on X (former Twitter) and Their Impact on Research Metrics: A Narrative Review and Correlation Analysis of Top 100 Altmetric Articles (2017–2021). Med J Islam Repub Iran 2026; 40 (1) :99-103
URL: http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/article-1-9922-en.html
URL: http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/article-1-9922-en.html
Research Center for Science and Technology in Medicine, Service Desk and Office Automation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , mtorabi@tums.ac.ir
Abstract: (41 Views)
Background: Social media platforms, particularly X (former Twitter), are increasingly used by researchers to disseminate scientific knowledge. However, the extent to which X engagement influences traditional academic impact remains unclear. This study examines the association between X mentions, Altmetric Attention Scores (AAS), and citation counts for highly visible research outputs.
Methods: A narrative review of studies on academic influencers in medical fields was combined with a quantitative correlation analysis of the top 100 Altmetric articles (2017–2021). Data included AAS, X mentions, and citation counts from Dimensions. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to assess year-by-year relationships. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar on August 3, 2024, using MeSH terms and Boolean operators.
Results: Strong positive correlations were found between X mentions and AAS (r = 0.673–0.944, P < 0.05). Correlations between AAS and citations were weaker and variable (r = 0.075–0.504, P < 0.05 in 2020 and 2021). The narrative review revealed mixed associations between social media influence and academic productivity across specialties.
Conclusion: X amplifies research visibility but has limited predictive power for long-term citation impact. These findings inform research evaluation by highlighting altmetrics as complementary tools. Future studies should explore multi-platform data and address global disparities in digital influence.
Methods: A narrative review of studies on academic influencers in medical fields was combined with a quantitative correlation analysis of the top 100 Altmetric articles (2017–2021). Data included AAS, X mentions, and citation counts from Dimensions. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to assess year-by-year relationships. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar on August 3, 2024, using MeSH terms and Boolean operators.
Results: Strong positive correlations were found between X mentions and AAS (r = 0.673–0.944, P < 0.05). Correlations between AAS and citations were weaker and variable (r = 0.075–0.504, P < 0.05 in 2020 and 2021). The narrative review revealed mixed associations between social media influence and academic productivity across specialties.
Conclusion: X amplifies research visibility but has limited predictive power for long-term citation impact. These findings inform research evaluation by highlighting altmetrics as complementary tools. Future studies should explore multi-platform data and address global disparities in digital influence.
Type of Study: Review Article |
Subject:
Health Management and Information Sciences
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