Counting Online Usage of Networked Electronic Resource (COUNTER) reports are standard. Use them for reliable comparisons between electronic resources from different suppliers, if applicable.
COUNTER 5.1 reports
See COUNTER Code of Practice Release 5.1
COUNTER 5.1 metrics
Reports are available for platforms, databases, titles, journals and books. Platforms host the content. For example, EBSCOhost, Ovid SP or ScienceDirect.
Here are some common metrics used in COUNTER reports
Investigations
When a user clicks on parts of a record, for example viewing the abstract, the citation or downloading the full-text.
Requests
This investigation is reported separately as a request.
Data types
Describes the content. For example, book, article, book_segment or journal.
Access types
How the item was accessed. Can be Controlled, i.e. authenticated, Open i.e. declared as open access by the publisher, or Free_To_Read
Searches
Used in database reports. Searches are divided into regular, platform, federated and automated.
Data types may be divided into titles and items. In the case of a journal, the journal itself will be reported at title level while the articles will be reported at the item level. Book chapters are reported at the item level.
Denials of access (used to be called turnaways) are reported as either:
- Limit Exceeded - the limit on concurrent users has been reached
- No Licence - the organisation has not bought access
In addition, the number of investigations and requests are reported as a total as a unique total.
Total counts all investigations.
Unique total counts the investigations which are unique to the title or item by the same user within the same session.
For example, as user may click the abstract of an article, check the citation and download the article. These count as three total investigations, but only one unique investigation.
See the glossary for more information about the different types of metrics.
Supplier reports
For help see EBSCO, ProQuest, BMJ, Ovid support.
As well as COUNTER reports, suppliers may offer reports which allow for customisation or offer more detail.