Personal Research Database

Full Text: 2005\Scientometrics62, 269.pdf

Abstract: The application of the measurement of scientific and technical activities has been a lengthy process of the appropriate metrics and the assignment of the standards and benchmarks for their usage. Although some studies have addressed issues of the management of science and technology and their relation to scientometrics and infometrics, there is nevertheless a need to consider the linkages between the conceptual background of scientific generation and progress - and the measurement of its process and outcomes. This paper first reviews the three main approaches to the generation and progress of human knowledge in general and scientific activity in particular. These approaches are reviewed in terms of the demands they would make on the measurement of scientific process and outputs. The paper then examines the currently used categories of metrics, and arrives at several conclusions. The paper provides an analysis of these conclusions and their implications to the generation and utilization of metrics of science and its outcomes. The review of the conceptual or philosophical foundations for the measurement of science offers an in-depth examination, resulting in the correlation of these foundations with the metrics we now use to measure science and its outcomes. The paper suggests research directions for a much needed link between theories of science and knowledge, and the application of metrics used to measure them. Finally, the paper offers several hypotheses and proposes potential empirical studies.

Somogyi, A. and Schubert, A. (2005), Correlation between national bibliometric and health indicators: The case of diabetes. Scientometrics, 62 (2), 285-292.

Full Text: 2005\Scientometrics62, 285.pdf

Abstract: Correlation between diabetes-related publication output and diabetes prevalence was sought and found in a sample of world countries and in the states of the US. Various correlation patterns (‘demand driven research’, ‘research driven prevention’, no correlation) were distinguished and interpreted.

? Xekalaki, E. (2005), Comments on the paper of Shan et al.: The multivariate Waring distribution. Scientometrics, 62 (2), 293-296.

Full Text: 2005\Scientometrics62, 293.pdf

Keywords: Accident Theory, Identifiability, Regression, Yule Distribution

? Braun, T. and Diospatonyi, I. (2005), The counting of core journal gatekeepers as science indicators really counts. The scientific scope of action and strength of nations. Scientometrics, 62 (3), 297-319.

Full Text: 2005\Scientometrics62, 297.pdf

Keywords: Citation Patterns, Editors, Journal, Science, Strength

? Egghe, L. (2005), A characterization of the law of Lotka in terms of sampling. Scientometrics, 62 (3), 321-328.

Full Text: 2005\Scientometrics62, 321.pdf

Abstract: An incomplete bibliography (or, more generally, an incomplete Information Production Process (IPP)) can be considered as a sample from a complete one. Sampling can be done in the sources or in the items. The simplest sampling technique is the systematic one where every k(th) source or k(th) item is taken (alternatively: deleted) (k is an element of N). In this paper we give a definition of systematic sampling in items and sources in the framework of an IPP in which we have continuous variables. We prove the theorem that in such IPPs we have a Lotkaian size-frequency function (i.e. a decreasing power function) if and only if systematic sampling in sources is the same as systematic sampling in items. In this proof we use the well-known characterization of power functions as scale-free functions.

Keywords: Bibliography, Characterization, Networks, Power, Systematic

? Santos, J.B. and Ortega-Irizo, F.J. (2005), Modelling citation age data with right censoring. Scientometrics, 62 (3), 329-342.

Full Text: 2005\Scientometrics62, 329.pdf

Abstract: in order to model the variable T (the age of citations received by scientific works) with data elaborated by the Institute of Scientific Information, we have used some of the instruments already developed in the survival models to this type of retrospective analyses in the presence of censored data. This analysis is used because, usually, the citations of ages greater than or equal to 10 years appear added together. For a set of journals related to the field of Applied Economics, we have explored which models fit better among those commonly used. Two different approaches to assess the goodness-of-fit for each selected model have been suggested: an analysis through graphical methods and a formal analysis to estimate the parameters of each model by the method of maximum likelihood estimation with data censored to the right.

Keywords: Analysis, Citation, Citations, Economics, Journals, Model, Scientific Information, Survival

? Bonitz, M. (2005), Klaus Fuchs - The enduring contribution to physics from his British period. Scientometrics, 62 (3), 343-350.

Full Text: 2005\Scientometrics62, 343.pdf

Abstract: Klaus Fuchs, during his years in England as an immigrant, has written 20 scientific papers. One of these papers, published in 1938, became a fundamental text in solid state physics and for the development of microelectronics in succeeding decades. It was cited more than 1200 times in the period from 1945 until 2003. It appears to be a typical case of delayed recognition in science. Pioneering papers simultaneously written by Hahn P StraBmann and by Meitner P Frisch on the discovery of nuclear fission are considered for comparison.

Keywords: Contribution, Development, England, Immigrant, Papers, Science

? Keiser, J. and Utzinger, J. (2005), Trends in the core literature on tropical medicine: A bibliometric analysis from 1952-2002. Scientometrics, 62 (3), 351-365.

Full Text: 2005\Scientometrics62, 351.pdf

Abstract: The medical specialty of ‘tropical medicine’ only dates back a little more than 100 years and, in the meantime, has gone through several quite distinctive eras. The aim of our study was to investigate trends that occurred in the leading literature on tropical medicine over the past 50 years. We analysed 2,802 original articles published in 1952, 1962, 1972, 1982, 1992 and 2002 in five of the high impact factor journals, namely (i) Acta Tropica, (II) American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, (iii) Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, (iv) Leprosy Review, and (v) Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Authors’ country affiliations were categorized according to the human development index 2003 (HDI), with stratification into low, medium and high HDI. We observed the following trends: First, there was a strong increase in the number of articles published from 250 in 1952 to 726 in 2002. Second, over the same time span, the median number of authors per article increased from I (four journals) or 2 (American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene) to 2.5 (Leprosy Review) up to 6 (Acta Tropica and American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene). Third, research collaborations between countries of different HDI ranks increased concomitantly - in 2002, 19.4-43.7% of all manuscripts comprised authors from different HDI countries - indicating that tropical medicine has become a global endeavour. However, in four of the five journals investigated, the overall percentage of researchers affiliated with low HDI countries decreased over the past 50 years and only a slight positive trend can be observed over the last decade. Concluding, current roadblocks should be identified and programmes designed and implemented to enhance equity of publishing in tropical medicine. This in cum might be an important step forward to substantially reduce the current burden of tropical diseases, so that social and economic development in the tropics and subtropics can be advanced and poverty alleviated.

Keywords: Multiple Authorship, Public-Health, Countries, Journals, Science, Africa

? Simkin, M.V. and Roychowdhury, V.P. (2005), Stochastic modeling of citation slips. Scientometrics, 62 (3), 367-384.

Full Text: 2005\Scientometrics62, 367.pdf

Abstract: We present empirical data on frequency and pattern of misprints in citations to twelve high-profile papers. We find that the distribution of misprints, ranked by frequency of their repetition, follows Zipfs law. We propose a stochastic model of citation process, which explains these findings, and leads to the conclusion that about 70-90% of scientific citations are copied from the lists of references used in other papers.

Keywords: Citation, Citations, Frequency, Model, Modeling, Networks, Ortega Hypothesis, Papers, Process, Science

? Liu, Z. (2005), Visualizing the intellectual structure in urban studies: A journal co-citation analysis (1992-2002). Scientometrics, 62 (3), 385-402.

Full Text: 2005\Scientometrics62, 385.pdf

Abstract: This paper studied the intellectual structure of urban studies through a co-citation analysis of its thirty-eight representative journals from 1992 to 2002. Relevant journal co-citation data were retrieved from Social SciSearch, and were subjected to cluster analysis, multidimensional scaling, and factor analysis. A cluster-enhanced two-dimensional map was created, showing a noticeable subject variation along the horizontal axis depicting four clusters of journals differentiated into mainstream urban studies, regional science and urban economics, transportation, and real estate finance. The cluster of the mainstream urban studies journals revealed a higher degree of interdisciplinarity than other clusters. The four-factor solution, though not a perfect match for the cluster solution, demonstrated the interrelationships among the overlapping journals loaded high on different factors. The results also showed a strong negative correlation between the coordinates of the horizontal axis and the mean journal correlation coefficients reflecting the subject variation, and a less revealing positive correlation between the coordinates of the vertical axis and the mean journal correlation coefficients.

Keywords: Analysis, Author Cocitation, Co-Citation Analysis, Cocitation, Economics, Factor-Analysis, Intellectual Structure, Interdisciplinarity, Journal, Journals, Overlapping, Science, Scientific Literatures, Transportation, Urban

? Gordon, A. (2005), The peripheral terrorism literature: Bringing it closer to the core. Scientometrics, 62 (3), 403-414.

Full Text: 2005\Scientometrics62, 403.pdf

Abstract: Core/periphery scientific communication is important for information transfer in terrorism literature. The mutual awareness between disciplinary journals contributors in the mainstream and those in the margins of the field enhances their social interaction. The usual case is that the mainstream of a discipline is visible through such indexes as the Web of Science (SCI) and the Journal Citation Report (JCR) the second of which assigns an impact factor to the most cited journals. In terrorism subject area, however, the reverse situation exists; only the peripheral journals in this field are indexed in JCR. From a scientific communication perspective, then, the core journals of terrorism writings are relatively invisible. This study attempts to identify the core and the periphery of journals dealing with terrorism, and suggests a way to bring them closer together. The assumption is that the quality and quantity of work in this field will increase as the distance between these two poles decreases.

Keywords: Awareness, Citation, Communication, Impact, Impact Factor, Indexes, Information, JCR, Journal, Journals, Literature, Quality, SCI, Science, Scientific Communication, Social, Terrorism, Web of Science

Chiu, W.T. and Ho, Y.S. (2005), Bibliometric analysis of homeopathy research during the period of 1991 to 2003. Scientometrics, 63 (1), 3-23.

Full Text: S\Scientometrics63, 3.pdf

Abstract: Homeopathy has been applied to clinical use since it was first presented 200 years ago. The use of the bibilometric analysis technique for examining this topic does not exist in the literature. The objective of this study is to conduct a bibliometric analysis of all homeopathy-related publications in Science Citation Index (SCI). A systematic search was performed using the SCI for publications during the period of 1991 to 2003. Selected documents included ‘Homoeopathy, Homoeopathic, Homeopathy, or Homeopathic’ as a part of the title, abstract, or keywords. Analyzed parameters included authorship, patterns of international collaboration, journal, language, document type, research address, number of times cited, and reprint author’s address. Citation analysis was mainly based on the impact factor as defined by the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) and on citations per publications (CPP), which is used to assess the impact relative to the entire field and is defined as the ratio between the average numbers of citations per publications in a certain period. Of total articles, 49% had a single author. The UK, the US, and Germany produced 71% of the total output, while European countries as a whole also contributed 65% of the total share of independent publications. English remains the dominant language, it comprised only 76%, while German contributed 18%, and the remaining where distributed among 8 European languages. More document types and languages, and fewer pages have appeared in homeopathy research. 3.5% of papers were cited more than 10 times in three years after publication, and 60% were never cited. Small-group collaboration was a popular method as co-authorship. The top 3 ranking countries of publication were the UK, the US, and Germany. The US dominated citation followed by the UK, and then Germany. In addition, a simulation model was applied to describe the relationship between the cumulative number of citations and the paper life.

Keywords: Analysis, Author, Authorship, Bibliometric, Bibliometric Analysis, Citation, Citation Analysis, Citations, Co-Authorship, Coauthorship, Collaboration, Document Types, English, Germany, Impact, Impact Factor, International Collaboration, JCR, Journal, Journal Citation Reports, Literature, Medicine, Model, Papers, Publication, Publications, Ranking, Ratio, Reports, Research, SCI, Science, Science Citation Index, Simulation, Systematic, UK, US

? Yu, G., Yu, D.R. and Li, Y.J. (2005), A simulation study of the periodicals’ publication delay control process. Scientometrics, 63 (1), 25-38.

Full Text: 2005\Scientometrics63, 25.pdf

Abstract: According to the discrete model of periodical publication process, recurrence formulae of parameters of the process are gained and the initial conditions of control process parameters from one steady state to another are deduced. Using the variable separation approach, which is used generally to solve the partial differential equation, the recurrence computing formula of the publication probability function is deduced. First the publication delay increasing process caused by the accepted contribution flux increase is simulated, and then the publication delay decreasing processes under four different control means are simulated too. Finally it is demonstrated that the periodical publishing process is a strong inertia system and it is found that reducing the quantity of deposited contributions can shorten the publication delay.

Keywords: Contribution, Control, Model, Periodical, Periodicals, Process, Process Parameters, Publication, Publishing, Recurrence, Separation, Simulation

? Ynalvez, M., Duque, R.B., Mbatia, P., Sooryamoorthy, R., Palackal, A. and Shrum, W. (2005), When do scientists “adopt” the Internet? Dimensions of connectivity in developing. Scientometrics, 63 (1), 39-67.

Full Text: 2005\Scientometrics63, 39.pdf

Abstract: We examine the diffusion of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the knowledge production sectors of three developing areas. Using interviews with 918 scientists in one South Asian and two African locations, we address three fundamental questions: (1) To what degree has the research community in the developing world adopted the Internet? (2) How can the disparities in Internet adoption best be characterized? (3) To what extent is Internet use associated with research productivity? Our findings indicate that while the vast majority of scientists describe themselves as current email users, far fewer have ready access to the technology, use it in diverse ways, or have extensive experience. These results are consistent with the notion that Internet adoption should not be characterized as a single act on the part of users. The rapid development of the Internet and the cumulative skills required for its effective use are equally important, particularly its impact on productivity. These findings lead us to qualify crude generalizations about the diffusion of the Internet in developing areas.

Keywords: Communication, Countries, Development, Diffusion, Disparities, Email, Gender, Impact, Information, Internet, Internet Adoption, Knowledge, Lead, Productivity, Publications, Research, Research Productivity, Science, Universities, Usage, World

? Frandsen, T.F. (2005), Geographical concentration: The case of economics journals. Scientometrics, 63 (1), 69-85.

Full Text: 2005\Scientometrics63, 69.pdf

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether geographical concentration can act as a supplement to the Journal Impact Factor (JIF). The results indicate that the use of a geographical concentration measure opens up new possibilities for analyses of the development of geographic diversion over time. In contrast to measures used in earlier studies the precise strength of the geographical concentration index as a measure of diversion is that it represents diversion as a single value that can be followed over time. The results show wider geographic distribution of European economics journals in the 1980s compared to the American economics journals whereas there seems to be no difference in geographic dispersion in the 1990s.

Keywprds: Research Output, Impact, Diffusion, American, Rankings, Science

? Bonaccorsi, A. and Daraio, C. (2005), Exploring size and agglomeration effects on public research productivity. Scientometrics, 63 (1), 87-120.

Full Text: 2005\Scientometrics63, 87.pdf

Abstract: The paper assesses the empirical foundation of two largely held assumptions in science policy making, namely scale and agglomeration effects. According to the former effect, scientific production may be subject to increasing returns to scale, defined at the level of administrative units, such as institutes or departments. A rationale for concentrating resources on larger units clearly follows from this argument. According to the latter, scientific production may be positively affected by external economies at the geographical level, so that concentrating institutes in the same area may improve scientific spillover, linkages and collaborations. Taken together, these arguments have implicitly or explicitly legitimated policies aimed at consolidating institutes in public sector research and at creating large physical facilities in a small number of cities. The paper is based on the analysis of two large databases, built by the authors from data on the activity of the Italian National Research Council in all scientific fields and of the French INSERM in biomedical research. Evidence from the two institutions is that the two effects do not receive empirical support. The implications for policy making and for the theory of scientific production are discussed.

Keywords: Academic Research, Analysis, Authors, Biomedical, Biomedical Research, Collaborations, Databases, Departments, Economies, French, Higher-Education, Knowledge, Performance-Measures, Policies, Policy, Policy Making, Productivity, Public Research, Research, Research Productivity, Research Universities, Scale, Science, Science Policy, Scientific Production, Scientific Productivity, Spillovers, Theory

? Jeannin, P. and Devillard, J. (2005), Implementing relevant disciplinary evaluations in the social sciences - National vs international interactions in scientific communities. Scientometrics, 63 (1), 121-144.

Full Text: 2005\Scientometrics63, 121.pdf

Abstract: This paper addresses the issue of relevancy when tackling the problem of the evaluation of research published in Social Science journals. This evaluation initialy relies on a critical selection of the databases scientists use. To implement relevant disciplinary evaluations, the method also needs to be scientific, ethical, replicable, comprehensive, flexible, transparent, accessible, incentive, productive, updatable and “internationalizable”. This qualitative approach takes into account the current global environment of research. Our method - introducing these criteria - consists in selecting the bases (either bases from the Institute for Scientific Information or not) scientists favour, in crossing them to elaborate new lists of journals, in testing them, in launching a life-size survey among scientists. This method stands as a prerequisite for further applications. Beyond this rather constructivist approach, such evaluations of research can benefit to all the actors participating in the process of the dissemination of knowledge. The need for an international cooperation in coming up with relevant evaluation criteria and indexes is put forward when implementing these sets of evaluation. The appendix presents a case study on French sociology.

Keywords: Cooperation, Databases, Dissemination, Environment, Evaluation, France, French, Indexes, Journals, Knowledge, Policy, Process, Qualitative, Research, Science, Sciences, Scientific Information, Social, Social Science, Social Sciences, Sociology, State, Survey

? Meyer, M., Du Plessis, M., Tukeva, T. and Utecht, J.T. (2005), Inventive output of academic research: A comparison of two science systems. Scientometrics, 63 (1), 145-161.

Full Text: 2005\Scientometrics63, 145.pdf

Abstract: This paper compares the inventive output of two science systems in small European countries. More specifically, we examine patented inventions of Finnish and Flemish university researchers. The comparison includes inventive output as such and its concentration on organizations, inventors, and corporate owners as well as foreign assignations and the degree to which individual inventors have retained the ownership of the patents. While there are commonalities between the Finnish and Flemish systems in terms of patent concentration on key institutions and corporate assignees, there are also pronounced differences with respect to the ownership structure of academic patents, which was expected in light of the different intellectual property regulations. Our observations seem to suggest that the total inventive output of a research system is not a function of the prevailing intellectual property system but rather in correspondence to overall national inventiveness thereby pointing to more general (national, cultural) drivers of academic inventive activity. From a methodological viewpoint, this research illustrates that tracing university-owned patents alone would leave considerable technological contributions of academics unidentified - also in countries where universities own the rights to their researchers’ patents. Another finding with potential methodological implications is that patents are highly concentrated on institutions. If such a distribution law applies to large countries as well, analysts could cover most of the national academic patent output by an intelligent selection of universities.

Keywords: Academics, Correspondence, Differences, Flows, Innovation, Patent, Patents, Research, Researchers, Science, Technology, Triple-Helix, Universities, University

? Glenisson, P., Glänzel, W. and Persson, O. (2005), Combining full-text analysis and bibliometric indicators. A pilot study. Scientometrics,