Altmetric launches AI sentiment analysis for research impact
Altmetric has launched an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered sentiment analysis feature to provide deeper insights into how research is received online.
The new tool, now part of Altmetric Explorer, uses AI to automatically assign sentiment scores to individual social media mentions of research outputs, creating what the company describes as a “spectrum of sentiment” ranging from strongly negative to strongly positive reactions. It offers users three main functions: automatic sentiment scoring, visual charts that show sentiment trends over time, and filtering capabilities to focus on specific types of discussions.
The feature was developed by Digital Science Senior Data Scientist Dr Carlos Areia and Head of Data Insights Mike Taylor, following consultation with the research community. Digital Science owns Altmetric, which tracks online attention to research publications.
“Impactful research deserves the best possible insights,” said Taylor. “Our new Sentiment Analysis feature gives some meaning to numbers, leveraging advanced technology to interpret and visualise the sentiment behind mentions on key social media platforms, and brings the potential to turn raw data into actionable insights for members of the research community.”
The system provides three main functionalities: automatic sentiment scoring of social media mentions, visual breakdown charts showing sentiment trends over time, and filtering capabilities that allow users to focus on specific types of discussions within the Altmetric Explorer interface.
The company believes that the insights could help research teams refine their approaches to publication, communication and dissemination strategies by better understanding audience reactions across different platforms and demographics.
Amye Kenall, Chief Product Officer at Digital Science, said: “The inclusion of Sentiment Analysis into Altmetric data is an important step in helping users get real insight from Altmetric data, enabling researchers and organisations to understand how their publications are being received, discussed and used,” she said.
The feature targets various user groups including medical affairs professionals, academic researchers, scholarly publishers, and R&D specialists, offering what Kenall described as exploration of “the ‘how and why’ behind their impact.”
The launch of the tool reflects a broader shift in research analytics, with a growing focus on more sophisticated impact assessment. While altmetrics have traditionally focused on quantifying online attention, this new sentiment analysis feature is designed to add qualitative context. It is aimed at various professionals, including academic researchers, medical affairs professionals, and scholarly publishers, among others.