The pros and cons of Microsoft Academic Search from a bibliometric perspective

Purpose This paper aims to look at the pros and cons of Microsoft Academic Search (MAS) from a bibliometric perspective. Design/methodology/approach This paper describes the major content and software features of MAS, and its shortcomings. Findings The paper recommends some further enhancements, and the use of care and caution when interpreting the metrics produced by cited reference enhanced databases, especially those created on the basis of the idea of autonomous citation indexing. Originality/value The paper reveals pros and cons of MAS. A free bibliometric service is a project of great interest to those interested in metrics‐based research performance evaluation.