Personal Research Database

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics87, 667.pdf

Abstract: In a previous article (Degli Esposti and Geraci. Bulletin of Italian Politics, 2011), we presented an historical survey of the university reform laws that took place in Italy in the last 30 years. On that occasion, we stressed how important is merit evaluation for academics and their institutions, especially in view of the much debated but not yet implemented ‘Gelmini’ reform with its long awaited new regulation for accessing academic positions (concorsi) and for determining individual weight in financial resource allocation among universities. Here, we present and compare several rankings used to evaluate the prestige and merit of Italian universities. We also consider alternative approaches to academic rankings that highlight peculiar aspects of the universities in Italy which cannot be reasonably accounted for by other international rankings. Finally, we propose a new approach that combines both national and international standing of Italian universities. It is hoped that this study will provide practical guidance to policy makers for establishing the criteria upon which merit should be assessed.

Keywords: Correlation, h-Index, Higher Education, Italy, Principal Component Analysis, Ranking, Reform Law

? Egghe, L. (2011), The impact factor rank-order distribution revisited. Scientometrics, 87 (3), 683-685.

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics87, 683.pdf

Keywords: Iceberg Hypothesis

? Krampen, G., von Eye, A. and Schui, G. (2011), Forecasting trends of development of psychology from a bibliometric perspective. Scientometrics, 87 (3), 687-694.

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics87, 687.pdf

Abstract: Bibliometric data on psychology publications from 1977 through 2008 are modeled and forecasted for the 10 years following 2008. Data refer to the raw frequencies of the PsycINFO (94% English-language, mainly Anglo-American publications) and the English-language documents of PSYNDEX (publications from the German-speaking countries). The series were modelled by way of exponential smoothing. In contrast to Single Moving Average methods which do not weigh observations, exponential smoothing assigns differential weights to observations. Weights reflect the distance from the most recent data point. Results suggest strongly expanding publication activities which can be represented by exponential functions. In addition, forecasted publication activities, estimated based on psychology publication frequencies in the past, show positive bibliometric trends in the Anglo-American research community. These trends go in parallel the bibliometric trends for the English-language publications of German-speaking authors. However, while positive trends were forecasted for all psychological subdisciplines of the Anglo-American publication database PsycINFO, negative bibliometric trends were estimated for English-language publications from German-speaking authors in 6 out of 20 subdisciplines.

Keywords: Bibliometry, Field, Forecasted Developmental Trends, History of Psychology, Psychology, Scientometry

? Wang, M.Y., Yu, G. and Yu, D.R. (2011), Mining typical features for highly cited papers. Scientometrics, 87 (3), 695-706.

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics87, 695.pdf

Abstract: In this paper, we discuss the application of the data mining tools to identify typical features for highly cited papers (HCPs). By integrating papers’ external features and quality features, the feature space used to model HCPs was established. Then, a series of predictor teams were extracted from the feature space with rough set reduction framework. Each predictor team was used to construct a base classifier. Then the five base classifiers with the highest classification performance and larger diversity on whole were selected to construct a multi-classifier system (MCS) for HCPs. The combination prediction model obtained better performance than models of a single predictor team. 11 typical prediction features for HCPs were extracted on the basis of the MCS. The findings show that both the papers’ inner quality and external features, mainly represented as the reputation of the authors and journals, contribute to generation of HCPs in future.

Keywords: Behavior, Citation Counts, Citation Network, Data Mining, Highly Cited Papers, Network, References, Science

? Tang, L. and Shapira, P. (2011), China-US scientific collaboration in nanotechnology: Patterns and dynamics. Scientometrics, 88 (1), 1-16.

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics88, 1.pdf

Abstract: This paper examines the rapid growth of China in the field of nanotechnology and the rise of collaboration between China and the US in this emerging domain. Chinese scientific papers in nanotechnology are analyzed to indicate overall trends, leading fields and the most prolific institutions. Patterns of China-US nanotechnology paper co-authorship are examined over the period 1990-2009, with an analysis of how these patterns have changed over time. The paper combines bibliometric analysis and science mapping. We find rapid development in the number of China-US co-authored nanotechnology papers as well as structural changes in array of collaborative nanotechnology sub-fields. Implications for both China and the US of this evolving relationship are discussed.

Keywords: Bibliometric, Bibliometric Analysis, China, China-Us Scientific Collaboration, Co-Authorship, Coauthorship, Collaboration, Cooperation, Development, Growth, International Collaboration, Nanoscience, Nanotechnology, Papers, Publications, Science Mapping, Science-and-Technology, Self-Organization, Trends, US

? Liesch, P.W., Hakanson, L., McGaughey, S.L., Middleton, S. and Cretchley, J. (2011), The evolution of the international business field: A scientometric investigation of articles published in its premier journal. Scientometrics, 88 (1), 17-42.

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics88, 17.pdf

Abstract: Macro-environmental trends such as technological changes, declining trade and investment barriers, and globalizing forces impacting both markets and production worldwide point to the heightened importance of international business (IB) and the relevance of IB research today. Despite this, a leading scholar has expressed concerns that the IB research agenda could be ‘running out of steam’ (Buckley, Journal of International Business Studies 33(2):365-373, 2002), prompting on-going introspection within the IB field. We contribute to this debate by investigating the evolution of the IB field through a scientometric examination of articles published in its premier journal, the Journal of International Business Studies (JIBS) from 1970 until 2008. We introduce a new analytical tool, Leximancer, to the fields of international business and scientometry. We show an evolution from an initial and extended emphasis on macro-environmental issues to a more recent focus on micro-economic, firm-level ones with the multinational enterprise (MNE) as an organizational form enduring throughout the entire period. We observe a field that has established a justifiable claim for relevance, participating actively in the interdisciplinary exchange of ideas.

Keywords: Concepts, Evolution, Future, Impact, International Business, Jibs, Journal, Korea, Leximancer, Network, Relevance, Research, Research Agenda, Scholarly Field, State, Strategies

? Shibayama, S. (2011), Distribution of academic research funds: A case of Japanese national research grant. Scientometrics, 88 (1), 43-60.

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics88, 43.pdf

Abstract: Drawing on a database of the competitive research funds in the Japanese academia, this study examines the distribution of research grants at the university and individual levels. The data indicates high inequality at the university level and slightly lower inequality at the individual level. Over the last three decades, the total grant budget has greatly increased and an increasing number of researchers have received the funds. Simultaneously, large-size grants have become more common and multiple awarding (i.e., one researcher receives more than one grant simultaneously) has become more frequent. These changes taken together, the level of inequality has not been changed substantially. The extent of inequality largely differs between scientific fields, especially high in basic natural sciences and relatively low in social sciences. A close examination of inequality over researchers’ career indicates different patterns of transition between fields and cohorts. Finally, both at the university and individual levels, the funding distribution is found more unequal than the distribution of publications as an output indicator.

Keywords: Academia, Funding, Inequality, NIH, Publications, Research, Research Grant, Science, Social Sciences, University

? Ko, Y.M., Cho, S.R. and Park, Y.S. (2011), A study on the optimization of KCI-based index (Kor-Factor) in evaluating Korean journals. Scientometrics, 88 (1), 61-71.

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics88, 61.pdf

Abstract: This study describes the development process of Kor-Factor, which is a novel composite evaluation index that was developed to promote Korean domestic academic journals. As more data accumulate, the Kor-Factor’s optimization process was modified in an attempt to address possible drawbacks of the original form, the result is presented in this study. This study compares Kor-Factor with the Impact Factor, which is the most well-known single element evaluation index. We found that Kor-Factor demonstrates a better power of differentiation and a greater capacity to reflect the reputability of key journals. The modified Kor-Factor, which has been developed through an optimization process, reveals a greater power of differentiation than the original Kor-Factor, however, the modified version has less capacity to reflect reputability. The evaluation elements of the modified Kor-Factor are better and are more evenly reflected on the index value than those of the original version. Finally, we propose the establishment of an appropriate data measurement period for the actual application of the index.

Keywords: Citations, Composite Index, Development, Evaluation, Evaluation Factor, Evaluation Index, Impact, Journal Indicator, Journals, Kor-Factor, Measurement, Science

? Chen, Z.F. and Guan, J.C. (2011), Mapping of biotechnology patents of China from 1995-2008. Scientometrics, 88 (1), 73-89.

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics88, 73.pdf

Abstract: The patents of China in biotechnology in the United States Patent and Trademark Office during 1995-2008 have been analyzed in this paper with the help of bibliometrics and social network analysis techniques. The analysis has been carried out from several perspectives including total patent output of industries, universities and public research institutes (PRIs) and their positions in the knowledge network, the main innovators and their interactions, the collaboration among Chinese regions and the collaborations from abroad. The results show that though with some improvements, the patent performance of Chinese organizations and regions in biotechnology still need to be improved. The connections between Chinese innovators are not very cohesive and they depend heavily on foreign knowledge, especial knowledge from U. S. multinational firms and universities. The important innovators of China in this field are mainly PRIs and universities. More and stronger firm innovators, especially large and powerful multinational companies, are strongly needed for the nation’s biotechnology industry.

Keywords: Bibliometric Analysis, Bibliometrics, China, Collaboration, Innovation, Innovation Performance, Korea, Network Forms, Organization, Patent, Research, Social Network, Social Network Analysis

? Ouimet, M., Bedard, P.O. and Gelineau, F. (2011), Are the h-index and some of its alternatives discriminatory of epistemological beliefs and methodological preferences of faculty members? The case of social scientists in Quebec. Scientometrics, 88 (1), 91-106.

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics88, 91.pdf

Abstract: This exploratory study aims at answering the following research question: Are the h-index and some of its derivatives discriminatory when applied to rank social scientists with different epistemological beliefs and methodological preferences? This study reports the results of five Tobit and two negative binomial regression models taking as dependent variable the h-index and six of its derivatives, using a dataset combining bibliometric data collected with the PoP software with cross-sectional data of 321 Quebec social scientists in Anthropology, Sociology, Social Work, Political Science, Economics and Psychology. The results reveal an epistemological/methodological effect making positivists and quantitativists globally more productive than constructivists and qualitativists.

Keywords: Bibliometric, Cross-Sectional Survey, Economics, Epistemology, Google Scholar, h Index, h-Index, Individual Researchers, Mechanisms, Psychology, Publish or Perish, Quebec, Research, Research Performance, Social Sciences, Social Scientists

? Abbas, A.M. (2011), Weighted indices for evaluating the quality of research with multiple authorship. Scientometrics, 88 (1), 107-131.

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics88, 107.pdf

Abstract: Devising an index to measure the quality of research is a challenging task. In this paper, we propose a set of indices to evaluate the quality of research produced by an author. Our indices utilize a policy that assigns the weights to multiple authors of a paper. We have considered two weight assignment policies: positionally weighted and equally weighted. We propose two classes of weighted indices: weighted h-indices and weighted citation h-cuts. Further, we compare our weighted h-indices with the original h-index for a selected set of authors. As opposed to h-index, our weighted h-indices take into account the weighted contributions of individual authors in multi-authored papers, and may serve as an improvement over h-index. The other class of weighted indices that we call weighted citation h-cuts take into account the number of citations that are in excess of those required to compute the index, and may serve as a supplement to h-index or its variants.

Keywords: Authors, Authorship, Citation, Citations, Credit, h Index, h-Index, Multiple Authors, Output, Papers, Policies, Policy, Publication, Quality Of Publication, Research, Weighted Index

? An, X.Y. and Wu, Q.Q. (2011), Co-word analysis of the trends in stem cells field based on subject heading weighting. Scientometrics, 88 (1), 133-144.

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics88, 133.pdf

Abstract: In this paper, co-word analysis is used to analyze the evolvement in stem cell field. Articles in the stem cell journals are downloaded from PubMed for analysis. Terms selection is one of the most important steps in co-word analysis, so the useless and the general subject headings are removed firstly, and then the major subject headings and minor subject headings are weighted respectively. Then, improved information entropy is exploited to select the subject headings with the experts consulting. Hierarchical cluster analysis is used to cluster the subject headings and the strategic diagram is formed to analyze the evolutionary trends in the stem cell field.

Keywords: Co-Word Analysis, Information, Information Entropy, Journals, Pubmed, Research Front, Strategic Diagram, Subject Heading Weighting

? Costas, R. and Bordons, M. (2011), Do age and professional rank influence the order of authorship in scientific publications? Some evidence from a micro-level perspective. Scientometrics, 88 (1), 145-161.

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics88, 145.pdf

Abstract: Scientific authorship has important implications in science since it reflects the contribution to research of the different individual scientists and it is considered by evaluation committees in research assessment processes. This study analyses the order of authorship in the scientific output of 1,064 permanent scientists at the Spanish CSIC (WoS, 1994-2004). The influence of age, professional rank and bibliometric profile of scientists over the position of their names in the byline of publications is explored in three different research areas: Biology and Biomedicine, Materials Science and Natural Resources. There is a strong trend for signatures of younger researchers and those in the lower professional ranks to appear in the first position (junior signing pattern), while more veteran or highly-ranked ones, who tend to play supervisory functions in research, are proportionally more likely to sign in the last position (senior signing pattern). Professional rank and age have an effect on authorship order in the three fields analysed, but there are inter-field differences. Authorship patterns are especially marked in the most collaboration-intensive field (i.e. Biology and Biomedicine), where professional rank seems to be more significant than age in determining the role of scientists in research as seen through their authorship patterns, while age has a more significant effect in the least collaboration-intensive field (Natural Resources).

Keywords: Age Analysis, Assessment, Authorship, Bibliometric, Bibliometrics, Biomedicine, Collaboration, Csic, Evaluation, Gender, Impact, Individual Level Analysis, Micro-Level Analysis, Multiple Authorship, Order of Authorship, Patterns, Productivity, Professional, Publications, Research, Researchers, Science, Scientific Publications, Trend, Young Scientists

? Varga, A.V. (2011), Measuring the semantic integrity of scientific fields: A method and a study of sociology, economics and biophysics. Scientometrics, 88 (1), 163-177.

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics88, 163.pdf

Abstract: The paper introduces a concept for measuring the interpretive fragmentation of scientific fields by the analysis of their citation networks. Transitive closure in two-mode networks is the basis of the proposed measurement. To test the validity of the concept two analyses are presented. One compares the integrity of two social sciences, sociology and economics, and a natural science, biophysics. The results are in line with the widely held opinion, that because of the lack in cumulative and consensual knowledge production mechanisms the social sciences are more disintegrated. Sociology is considerably more fragmented then economics, as the different paradigm structure of these disciplines would predict. As a second test, the fragmentation of scholarly communication inside and between the sub-fields of sociology is measured. The results correctly indicate that meaning making processes are taking place inside invisible colleges.

Keywords: Ambiguity, Citation, Citation Analysis, Citation Networks, Economics, Integration, Meaning, Measurement, Network Analysis, Paradigms, Social Sciences

? Zavadskas, E.K., Kirvaitis, R. and Dagiene, E. (2011), Scientific publications released in the Baltic States. Scientometrics, 88 (1), 179-190.

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics88, 179.pdf

Abstract: The article focuses on evolution of scientific publications released in the Baltic States (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) and refers to international databases that contain scientific papers produced over the last 20 years of independence. The countries share the same history of restoration of independence after 40 years of occupation. The article shall specifically focus on the period of post EU accession in 2004. It will discuss the contribution of Kaunas University of Technology, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Riga Technical University and Tallinn University of Technology to the total number of publications in these countries. The investigation was based on databases of Thomson Reuters Web of Science, Essential Science Indicators and Journal Citation Report. Additionally, it employed the Scimago ranking system based on Scopus database. Data analysis also involved similar indices that provide the number of papers and their citation results as well as the average number of citations per paper.

Keywords: Baltic States, Citation, Citation Analysis, Citations, Databases, History, Indicators, Output, Papers, Publication Analysis, Publication on Engineering, Publications, Ranking, Research Journal, Scientific Publication, Scientific Publications, Scopus, Technical Universities, University, Web of Science

? Lin, F. (2011), A study on power-law distribution of hostnames in the URL references. Scientometrics, 88 (1), 191-198.

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics88, 191.pdf

Abstract: The power-law distribution and the Garfield’s Law of Concentration of journal citation have long been verified by empirical data. As a relatively new type of reference, the URL references are cited more and more frequently in the scientific papers and their distribution is proved to fit for the Garfield’s Law of Concentration too. In this article, we collect three URL references datasets extracted from papers written by researchers belonging to three big research groups : Chinese Academy of Sciences, Max Planck Institute, and the whole Chinese scientific researchers. Through the curve-fitting with SPSS and contrast the results with the judgment standard of power-law distribution, we verify that there also exists power-law distribution in the citation frequency of hostnames in these three URL references datasets. And our experimental results show that the range of power exponent in the journal references and the URL references are different. Started from the concrete empirical procedures and the final experimental results, we analyze four factors that may lead to this difference between journal references and URL references: the sample size, the sampling method, the concentration of citation and the type property of citation.

Keywords: Citation, Citation Distribution, Citations, Hostname Citation Frequency, Index, Journal, Law, Model, Papers, Power-Law Distribution, Rank Distributions, Research, Url Reference

? Bouabid, H. (2011), Revisiting citation aging: A model for citation distribution and life-cycle prediction. Scientometrics, 88 (1), 199-211.

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics88, 199.pdf

Abstract: The study of citation distribution provides retrospective and prospective picture of the evolving impact of a corpus of publications on knowledge community. All distribution models agree on the rise of the number of citations in the first years following the publication to reach a peak and then tend to be less cited when time passes. However, questions such as how long it will continue being cited and what is objectively the rate of the decline remain unanswered. Built up of simple polynomial function, the proposed model is proven to be suitable to represent the observed citation distribution over time and to interestingly identify with accuracy when the major loss of citations happens. I calculate from the model the ‘residual citations’ representing the citations kept after a long time period after publication year. I demonstrate that the residual citations may be greater than or equal to zero, meaning that the ‘life-cycle’ of the corpus is infinite, contrary to what some researches termed to be around 21 years. This model fits the observed data from SCI according to R-sq which is greater than 98.9%. Rather, it is very simple and easy to implement and can be used by not highly-skilled scientometric users. Finally, the model serves as a citation predictive tool for a corpus by determining the citations that would obtain at any time of its life-cycle.

Keywords: Behavior, Citation, Citation Aging, Citation Distribution, Citation-Prediction, Citations, Impact, Isi-Data, Life-Cycle, Life-Time, Model, Observed Citations, Obsolescence, Oecd-Countries, Publication, Publication Delays, Publications, SCI, Science

? Yoon, J. and Kim, K. (2011), Identifying rapidly evolving technological trends for R&D planning using SAO-based semantic patent networks. Scientometrics,