Multi-criteria altmetric scores are likely to be redundant with respect to a subset of the underlying information

Alternative metrics are primarily composed of raw data such as the counts of views, downloads, mentions, and so forth. Yet, they also feature several composite indicators that variously combine the above information. Topical examples are the Research Interest score provided by ResearchGate and the Altmetric Attention Score by Altmetric.com. As far as the latter is concerned, it is argued here that, as many weighted sums do, it merely tends to reproduce the information already conveyed by one or a few criteria to which excessive importance is given. In a weighted sum, when a term takes on much more weight than the others, the result tends to become redundant, and the Altmetric Attention Score is no exception. Bottom line: there remains an open question. Provided the alternative metrics point to different—perhaps irreconcilable—aspects of the broad societal impacts of scholarly research, does an additional indicator built on a weighted sum really matter?