Measuring online journal usage: Issues for Canadian social science and humanities journals

Features embedded in the technology of online publishing provide an opportunity to redefine readership and measure usage. Such changes are particularly important for Canadian social science and humanities journals that compete for funds from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)—competing journals are required to demonstrate use of their product. This report explores the potential utility of web analytics for SSHRC’s evaluation of journal usage by unpacking the issues involved in the process of measuring the usage of online journals. In this context, current methods for tracking, collecting and analysing web usage data are reviewed and the meaning of some common web usage metrics is explored. The findings of this report suggest that implementing standards for collecting, processing, and reporting usage data will support journals in their preparation to apply for funding and will increase the fairness of the competition.