Bibliometrics is the branch of library science concerned with the application of mathematical and statistical analysis to bibliography and the statistical analysis of books, articles, or other publications. 

Scientometrics is the branch of information science concerned with the application of bibliometrics to the study of the spread of scientific ideas; the bibliometric analysis of science

Some FAQs demonstrate why bibliometrics are important in research and how they can assist you to increase your impact:

"What are the best journals in my field?"
"How do I check who is citing my articles? How many times have I been cited?"
"How do I know this article is important?"
"How can I compare the research impact between journals so I know which journal should I publish in?"

Bibliometrics affect many areas in research such as:

• author impact
• journal collections
• research funding
• tenure
• expertise status in the field
• finding others in the field/subject area (using citation searching)