Personal Research Database

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics87, 389.pdf

Abstract: This paper describes and analyses the role played in the development of bibliometric indicators-and the use made of bibliometric indicators for policy purposes-by the European Commission’s Directorate-General Research in the period 1990-2005.

Keywords: Analyses, Bibliometric, Bibliometric Indicators, Development, European Commission, European Paradox, European Research Area, Evaluation, Excellence, Framework Programme, Indicators, Policy, Research, Research Policy, Role

? Abramo, G., D’Angelo, C.A. and Di Costa, F. (2011), A national-scale cross-time analysis of university research performance. Scientometrics, 87 (2), 399-413.

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics87, 399.pdf

Abstract: Research policies in the more developed nations are ever more oriented towards the introduction of productivity incentives and competition mechanisms intended to increase efficiency in research institutions. Assessments of the effects of these policy interventions on public research activity often neglect the normal, inherent variation in the performance of research institutions over time. In this work, we propose a cross-time bibliometric analysis of research performance by all Italian universities in two consecutive periods (2001-2003 and 2004-2008) not affected by national policy interventions. Findings show that productivity and impact increased at the level of individual scientists. At the level of university, significant variation in the rank was observed.

Keywords: Analysis, Bibliometric, Bibliometric Analysis, Bibliometrics, Competition, Cross-Time Analysis, Effects, Efficiency, Impact, Incentives, Institutions, Interventions, Mechanisms, National Scale, Nations, Neglect, Normal, Performance, Policies, Policy, Productivity, Public, Rank, Research, Research Assessment, Research Institutions, Research Performance, Research Productivity, Universities, University, Work

? Glänzel, W., Schubert, A., Thijs, B. and Debackere, K. (2011), A priori vs. a posteriori normalisation of citation indicators. The case of journal ranking. Scientometrics, 87 (2), 415-424.

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics87, 415.pdf

Abstract: Two paradigmatic approaches to the normalisation of citation-impact measures are discussed. The results of the mathematical manipulation of standard indicators such as citation means, notably journal Impact Factors, (called a posteriori normalisation) are compared with citation measures obtained from fractional citation counting (called a priori normalisation). The distributions of two subfields of the life sciences and mathematics are chosen for the analysis. It is shown that both methods provide indicators that are useful tools for the comparative assessment of journal citation impact.

Keywords: Analysis, Assessment, Characteristic Scores And Scales, Charts, Citation, Citation Measures, Immediacy Index, Impact, Impact Factor, Indicators, Journal, Journal Impact Measures, Journal Ranking, Life, Life Sciences, Methods, Normalisation, Output, Ranking, Relative Indicators, Research Performance, Sciences, Standard

? Tsai, H.H. (2011), Research trends analysis by comparing data mining and customer relationship management through bibliometric methodology. Scientometrics, 87 (3), 425-450.

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics87, 425.pdf

Abstract: There are few comprehensive studies and categorization schemes to discuss the characteristics for both data mining and customer relationship management (CRM) although they have already become more important recently. Using a bibliometric approach, this paper analyzes data mining and CRM research trends from 1989 to 2009 by locating headings “data mining” and “customer relationship management” or “CRM” in topics in the SSCI database. The bibliometric analytical technique was used to examine these two topics in SSCI journals from 1989 to 2009, we found 1181 articles with data mining and 1145 articles with CRM. This paper implemented and classified data mining and CRM articles using the following eight categories-publication year, citation, country/territory, document type, institute name, language, source title and subject area-for different distribution status in order to explore the differences and how data mining and CRM technologies have developed in this period and to analyze data mining and CRM technology tendencies under the above result. Also, the paper performs the K-S test to check whether the analysis follows Lotka’s law. The research findings can be extended to investigate author productivity by analyzing variables such as chronological and academic age, number and frequency of previous publications, access to research grants, job status, etc. In such a way characteristics of high, medium and low publishing activity of authors can be identified. Besides, these findings will also help to judge scientific research trends and understand the scale of development of research in data mining and CRM through comparing the increases of the article author. Based on the above information, governments and enterprises may infer collective tendencies and demands for scientific researcher in data mining and CRM to formulate appropriate training strategies and policies in the future. This analysis provides a roadmap for future research, abstracts technology trends and facilitates knowledge accumulations so that data mining and CRM researchers can save some time since core knowledge will be concentrated in core categories. This implies that the phenomenon “success breeds success” is more common in higher quality publications.

Keywords: Bibliometric Methodology, Crm, Customer Relationship Management, Data Mining, Framework, Impact, Implementation, Knowledge, Lotka Law, Neural-Networks, Perspective, Research Trend Analysis, Scientific Productivity

? Furukawa, T., Shirakawa, N. and Okuwada, K. (2011), Quantitative analysis of collaborative and mobility networks. Scientometrics, 87 (3), 451-466.

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics87, 451.pdf

Abstract: This study proposes a quantitative analysis of researcher mobility (i.e. transfer from one institution to another) and collaborative networks on the basis of author background data extracted from biographical notes in scientific articles to identify connections that are not revealed via simple co-authorship analysis. Using a top-ranked journal in the field of computer vision, we create a layered network that describes various aspects of author backgrounds, demonstrating a geographical distribution of institutions. We classify networks according to various dimensions including authors, institutions and countries. The results of the quantitative analysis indicate that mobility networks extend beyond the typical collaborative networks describing institutional and international relationships. We also discuss sectoral collaboration considering the mobility networks. Our findings indicate a limitation of collaborative analysis based on bibliometric data and the importance of tracing researcher mobility within potential networks to identify the true nature of scientific collaboration.

Keywords: Author Backgrounds, Centrality, Co-Author Networks, Coauthorship Networks, Collaborative Networks, Evolution, Industry, Innovation, Journal, Knowledge, Researcher Mobility, Scientific Collaboration, Scientific Collaboration, Social Network, Technology, Triple-Helix

? Waltman, L., van Eck, N.J., van Leeuwen, T.N., Visser, M.S. and van Raan, A.F.J. (2011), Towards a new crown indicator: An empirical analysis. Scientometrics, 87 (3), 467-481.

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics87, 467.pdf

Abstract: We present an empirical comparison between two normalization mechanisms for citation-based indicators of research performance. These mechanisms aim to normalize citation counts for the field and the year in which a publication was published. One mechanism is applied in the current so-called crown indicator of our institute. The other mechanism is applied in the new crown indicator that our institute is currently exploring. We find that at high aggregation levels, such as at the level of large research institutions or at the level of countries, the differences between the two mechanisms are very small. At lower aggregation levels, such as at the level of research groups or at the level of journals, the differences between the two mechanisms are somewhat larger. We pay special attention to the way in which recent publications are handled. These publications typically have very low citation counts and should therefore be handled with special care.

Keywords: Bibliometric Indicator, Charts, Citation, Citation Impact, Crown Indicator, Field, Journals, Normalization, Relative Indicators, Research Performance

? Larivière, V., Vignola-Gagné, E., Villeneuve, C., Gélinas, P. and Gingras, Y. (2011), Sex differences in research funding, productivity and impact: An analysis of Quebec university professors. Scientometrics, 87 (3), 483-498.

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics87, 483.pdf

Abstract: Using the entire population of professors at universities in the province of Quebec (Canada), this article analyzes the relationship between sex and research funding, publication rates, and scientific impact. Since age is an important factor in research and the population pyramids of men and women are different, the role of age is also analyzed. The article shows that, after they have passed the age of about 38, women receive, on average, less funding for research than men, are generally less productive in terms of publications, and are at a slight disadvantage in terms of the scientific impact (measured by citations) of their publications. Various explanations for these differences are suggested, such as the more restricted collaboration networks of women, motherhood and the accompanying division of labour, women’s rank within the hierarchy of the scientific community and access to resources as well as their choice of research topics and level of specialization.

Keywords: Age, Bibliometric Indicators, Canada, Collaboration, Collaboration, Gender-Differences, Humanities, Output, Publication Productivity, Quebec, Research Funding, Research Impact, Research Productivity, Scientific Productivity, Sex, Social-Sciences, Specialization, Universities, Visibility

? Abramo, G. and D’Angelo, C.A. (2011), Evaluating research: From informed peer review to bibliometrics. Scientometrics, 87 (3), 499-514.

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics87, 499.pdf

Abstract: National research assessment exercises are becoming regular events in ever more countries. The present work contrasts the peer-review and bibliometrics approaches in the conduct of these exercises. The comparison is conducted in terms of the essential parameters of any measurement system: accuracy, robustness, validity, functionality, time and costs. Empirical evidence shows that for the natural and formal sciences, the bibliometric methodology is by far preferable to peer-review. Setting up national databases of publications by individual authors, derived from Web of Science or Scopus databases, would allow much better, cheaper and more frequent national research assessments.

Keywords: Bibliometrics, Decision Support Systems, Indicators, Peer Review, Research Assessment, Research Productivity

? Prathap, G. (2011), The Energy-Exergy-Entropy (or EEE) sequences in bibliometric assessment. Scientometrics, 87 (3), 515-524.

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics87, 515.pdf

Abstract: Bibliometric research assessment has matured into a quantitative phase using more meaningful measures and analogies. In this paper, we propose a thermodynamic analogy and introduce what are called the energy, exergy and entropy terms associated with a bibliometric sequence. This can be displayed as time series (variation over time), or in event terms (variation as papers are published) and also in the form of phase diagrams (energy-exergy-entropy representations). It is exergy which is the most meaningful single number scalar indicator of a scientist’s performance while entropy then becomes a measure of the unevenness (disorder) of the publication portfolio.

Keywords: Bibliometrics, Energy, Entropy, Exergy, Index, P-Index, S = E - X, X = Ic

? Bjurstrom, A. and Polk, M. (2011), Climate change and interdisciplinarity: A co-citation analysis of IPCC Third Assessment Report. Scientometrics, 87 (3), 525-550.

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics87, 525.pdf

Abstract: This study addresses whether interdisciplinarity is a prominent feature of climate research by means of a co-citation analysis of the IPCC Third Assessment Report. The debate on interdisciplinarity and bibliometric measures is reviewed to operationalize the contested notion of interdisciplinarity. The results, based on 6417 references of the 96 most frequently used journals, demonstrate that the IPCC assessment of climate change is best characterized by its multidisciplinarity where the physical, biological, bodily and societal dimensions are clearly separated. Although a few fields and journals integrate a wide variety of disciplines, integration occurs mainly between related disciplines (narrow interdisciplinarity) which indicate an overall disciplinary basis of climate research. It is concluded that interdisciplinarity is not a prominent feature of climate research. The significance of this finding is explored, given that the problem scope of climate change necessitates interdisciplinarity. Ways to promote interdisciplinarity are suggested by way of conclusion.

Keywords: Bibliometrics, Climate Research, Disciplines, Global Environmental-Change, Interdisciplinary, Intergovernmental Panel, International Collaboration, IPCC, Knowledge, Multidisciplinary, Nanotechnology, Networks, Science, Sustainable Development, Transdisciplinarity

? Chuang, K.Y., Wang, M.H. and Ho, Y.S. (2011), High-impact papers presented in the subject category of water resources in the essential science indicators database of the institute for scientific information. Scientometrics, 87 (3), 551-562.

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics87, 551.pdf, 2011\Scientometrics-Chuang-1.pdf, 2011\Scientometrics-Chuang.pdf

Abstract: The Essential Science Indicators (ESI) database is widely used to evaluate institutions and researchers. The objective of this study was to analyze trends and characteristics of papers in the subject category of water resources in the ESI database of the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI). Distributions of document type, language of publication, scientific output, and publication of journals are reported in this article. Five indicators (the number and ranking of total papers, first-author papers, correspondingauthor papers, independent papers, and collaborative papers) were applied to evaluate country, institute, and author performances. In addition, the numbers of authors cited, numbers of institutes cited, numbers of countries cited, and numbers of subject areas cited were also used to evaluate ESI papers. Results showed that 265 papers, all written in English, were listed in 27 journals in the field of water resources. A review paper was more likely to be included in the ESI than a research paper. Journal of Hydrology published the most papers. The USA and UK were the two leading nations. ESI papers published in the US were more likely to involve inter-institutional collaboration than papers published in the UK. The University of Arizona was the most productive institute. Some papers that were almost excluded from the ESI database appear to have consistently received annual high frequencies of citation. Perhaps the 10 year criterion for inclusion in the ESI should be reassessed.

Keywords: Bibliometric Analysis, Biosorption, Citation Analysis, Climate-Change, ESI, European-Union, Hirsch-Index, Indicators, Journals, Model, Number of Countries Cited, Number of Institutes Cited, Number of Subject Areas Cited, Research Performance, Trends

? Wang, J. and Shapira, P. (2011), Funding acknowledgement analysis: An enhanced tool to investigate research sponsorship impacts: the case of nanotechnology. Scientometrics, 87 (3), 563-586.

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics87, 563.pdf

Abstract: There is increasing interest in assessing how sponsored research funding influences the development and trajectory of science and technology. Traditionally, linkages between research funding and subsequent results are hard to track, often requiring access to separate funding or performance reports released by researchers or sponsors. Tracing research sponsorship and output linkages is even more challenging when researchers receive multiple funding awards and collaborate with a variety of differentially-sponsored research colleagues. This article presents a novel bibliometric approach to undertaking funding acknowledgement analysis which links research outputs with their funding sources. Using this approach in the context of nanotechnology research, the article probes the funding patterns of leading countries and agencies including patterns of cross-border research sponsorship. We identify more than 91,500 nanotechnology articles published worldwide during a 12-month period in 2008-2009. About 67% of these publications include funding acknowledgements information. We compare articles reporting funding with those that do not (for reasons that may include reliance on internal core-funding rather than external awards as well as omissions in reporting). While we find some country and field differences, we judge that the level of reporting of funding sources is sufficiently high to provide a basis for analysis. The funding acknowledgement data is used to compare nanotechnology funding policies and programs in selected countries and to examine their impacts on scientific output. We also examine the internationalization of research funding through the interplay of various funding sources at national and organizational levels. We find that while most nanotechnology funding is nationally-oriented, internationalization and knowledge exchange does occur as researchers collaborate across borders. Our method offers a new approach not only in identifying the funding sources of publications but also in feasibly undertaking large-scale analyses across scientific fields, institutions and countries.

Keywords: Basic Research, Bibliometrics, Citation, Funding, Funding Acknowledgement Analysis, Grants, Information-Science, Money, Nanotechnology, Publications, Research Funding, Research Outputs, Research Sponsorship

? Jeremic, V., Bulajic, M., Martic, M. and Radojicic, Z. (2011), A fresh approach to evaluating the academic ranking of world universities. Scientometrics, 87 (3), 587-596.

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics87, 587.pdf

Abstract: The aim of this article is to present new ideas in evaluating Shanghai University’s Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). One issue frequently put forth in various publications is that the Shanghai rankings are sensitive to the relative weight they attribute to each variable. As a possible remedy to this issue, the statistical I-distance method is proposed to be used. Based on a sample containing the top 100 ranked universities, the results show a significant correlation with the official ARWU list. However, some inconsistencies concerning European universities have been noticed and elaborated upon.

Keywords: Arwu, Classification, Fatal Attraction, Ranking Of Universities, Statistical Methods, The I-Distance Method, Universities

? Cabanac, G. (2011), Accuracy of inter-researcher similarity measures based on topical and social clues. Scientometrics, 87 (3), 597-620.

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics87, 597.pdf

Abstract: Scientific literature recommender systems (SLRSs) provide papers to researchers according to their scientific interests. Systems rely on inter-researcher similarity measures that are usually computed according to publication contents (i.e., by extracting paper topics and citations). We highlight two major issues related to this design. The required full-text access and processing are expensive and hardly feasible. Moreover, clues about meetings, encounters, and informal exchanges between researchers (which are related to a social dimension) were not exploited to date. In order to tackle these issues, we propose an original SLRS based on a threefold contribution. First, we argue the case for defining inter-researcher similarity measures building on publicly available metadata. Second, we define topical and social measures that we combine together to issue socio-topical recommendations. Third, we conduct an evaluation with 71 volunteer researchers to check researchers’ perception against socio-topical similarities. Experimental results show a significant 11.21% accuracy improvement of socio-topical recommendations compared to baseline topical recommendations.

Keywords: Combining Full-Text, Experiment, Human Perception, Index, Information-Retrieval, Literature, Literature Review, Measurement, Network Analysis, Perception, Recommendation, Recommender Systems, Similarity Among Researchers, Small-World Problem, Social Clues, Topical Clues

? Todeschini, R. (2011), The j-index: A new bibliometric index and multivariate comparisons between other common indices. Scientometrics, 87 (3), 621-639.

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics87, 621.pdf

Abstract: A new bibliometric index is proposed, trying to preserve the advantages of the h-index and to overcome its disadvantages. Multivariate comparisons among 18 bibliometric indices are performed by using Hasse Diagram Technique (HDT) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The comparisons were performed on some artificial data sets, three of them well known in literature. The obtained results seems to highlight some interesting properties of the new index and also reveals some relevant relationships among the considered bibliometric indices.

Keywords: Bibliometric Indices, h-Index, h-Index, Hasse Diagrams, J-Index, Literature, Output, PCA

? Abramo, G., Cicero, T. and D’Angelo, C.A. (2011), The dangers of performance-based research funding in non-competitive higher education systems. Scientometrics, 87 (3), 641-654.

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics87, 641.pdf

Abstract: An increasing number of nations allocate public funds to research institutions on the basis of rankings obtained from national evaluation exercises. Therefore, in non-competitive higher education systems where top scientists are dispersed among all the universities, rather than concentrated among a few, there is a high risk of penalizing those top scientists who work in lower-performance universities. Using a 5 year bibliometric analysis conducted on all Italian universities active in the hard sciences from 2004 to 2008, this work analyzes the distribution of publications and relevant citations by scientists within the universities, measures the research performance of individual scientists, quantifies the intensity of concentration of top scientists at each university, provides performance rankings for the universities, and indicates the effects of selective funding on the top scientists of low-ranked universities.

Keywords: Bibliometric Analysis, Bibliometrics, Italy, Performance Variability, Performance-Based Research Funding, Research Assessment Exercises, Top Scientists, University, University-Research

? Czerwon, H.J. (2011), Jan Vlachy (1937-2010) Obituary. Scientometrics, 87 (3), 655-656.

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics87, 655.pdf

? Ortega, J.L. (2011), Collaboration patterns in patent networks and their relationship with the transfer of technology: The case study of the CSIC patents. Scientometrics, 87 (3), 657-666.

Full Text: 2011\Scientometrics87, 657.pdf

Abstract: The aim of this article is to observe differences between research areas when it comes to establish collaboration ties with local, national or international partners. It also intends to determine in what extent the collaboration can influence the patent transfer. A collaboration network between CSIC researchers and their external collaborators was built. Several statistical tests were used to find significant differences between research areas. A multiple regression model was also utilized in order to know what type of collaboration is more successful to transfer a patent. The results show that there are two well defined groups. A “Bio” group with a high international collaboration pattern but less national participation, and a “Physicist” group supported by a high proportion of national partners but with few international connections. The regression analysis found that the national collaboration is the variable that most increase the patent transfer.

Keywords: Collaboration, Collaboration Pattern, Exploration, Multiple Regression Model, Patent Licensing, Research Areas, Scientometrics

? Geraci, M. and Esposti, M. (2011), Where do Italian universities stand? An in-depth statistical analysis of national and international rankings. Scientometrics,