Personal Research Database

Full Text: 1991\Scientometrics20, 65.pdf

? Trimble, V. (1991), Long-term careers of astronomers with doctoral degrees from prestigious vs non-prestigious universities. Scientometrics, 20 (1), 71-77.

Full Text: 1991\Scientometrics20, 71.pdf

Abstract: A comparison has been made of the long-term careers of complete samples of astronomers who earned their PhD’s at one prestigious (P) and one nonprestigious (NP) university. The sample sizes are 106 (degrees 1952-88) and 94 (degrees 1966-88) respectively. For both groups, the vast majority are still engaged in some aspect of astronomy or closely related sciences (90% and 74% respectively). But the fraction still engaged primarily in astronomical research and advanced teaching at PhD-granting universities and observatories is 65% for the prestigious and only 32% for the non-prestigious institution. The half-lives as members of the research publishing community are more than 30 yr vs. less than 20 yr for P vs. NP astronomers. Very little of the difference is attributable to the different distributions of dates of degrees in the two samples. A subsample of the P astronomers age-matched to the NP ones has 66% still engaged is astronomical research and advanced teaching, a large difference in publishing half-lives also persists in the subsamples with degrees since 1966.

Keywords: Careers, Community, Comparison, Publishing, Research, Sciences, Teaching, Universities, University

? Qurashi, M.M. (1991), Publication-rate and size of two prolific research groups in Departments of Inorganic-Chemistry at Dacca University (1944-1965) and Zoology at Karachi University (1966-84). Scientometrics, 20 (1), 79-92.

Full Text: 1991\Scientometrics20, 79.pdf

Abstract: There has been considerable interest in studying how the research output of a group of N researchers depends on the group-size, N. Several workers have studied this, but with conflicting conclusions, ranging from finding constant per-capita output to per-capita output varying linearly as N, and even exponentially with N. The present communication states afresh the author’s earlier theory of productive interactions and gives analyses of the outputs of two prolific research groups: one from Dhaka University, Bangladesh, and one from Karachi University, Pakistan, each over nearly two decades. The data, obtained from published bibliographies, are sub-divided into small successive ranges of lab. group size, 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, etc., and analyzed by calculating the relevant publication-rate per person (R) for each range. Plots of the data from each group show evidence of an initial approx. linear rise of per-capita publication rate, R, up to about N = 5, followed by a maximum at group-size of 6 to 8 persons. This group size would correspond to the optimum efficiency, as a balance between the benefits of increasing interaction (alpha-N2) and Parkinsonian loss of efficiency. This is in agreement with the first peak in the author’s earlier analysis (of recent U.K. and U.S.A. data) published five years ago in Scientometrics, as well as his previous work published elsewhere. Possible reasons for the failure of statistical criteria to show up this phenomenon of increasing per-capita output are indicated and further indepth studies on two University research groups are planned.

Keywords: Analysis, Bangladesh, Bibliographies, Communication, Criteria, Efficiency, Evidence, First, Interaction, Pakistan, Person, Publication, Research, Scientometrics, Size, Small, Theory, Work

? Egghe, L. (1991), The exact place of Zipfs and Paretos law amongst the classical informetric laws. Scientometrics, 20 (1), 93-106.

Full Text: 1991\Scientometrics20, 93.pdf

Abstract: In this paper, the special place of Zipf’s law and Pareto’s law amongst other classical informetric laws (such as Bradford’s graphical and verbal law, Weber-Fechner’s or Brookes’, Leimkuhler’s and Mandelbrot’s) is revealed and explained. Equivalencies amongst some of these laws are proved. We also determine the conditions under which Bradford’s graphical law is a special case of Bradford’s verbal law.

Keywords: Law, Laws, Zipf’s Law

? Bonitz, M. (1991), The impact of behavioral principles on the design of the system of scientific communication. Scientometrics, 20 (1), 107-111.

Full Text: 1991\Scientometrics20, 107.pdf

Abstract: This paper 1 provides further evidence for the validity of the holography and maximum speed principles. Supportive examples stem from an attempt to measure speed indicators in scientific communication processes directly, from a new scientific communication channel launched by the Institute for Scientific Information, Philadelphia, USA, from a search for correlations between scientometric indicators and socio-economic indicators, and from a study of rank distribution phenomena occurring in the transition from individual to collective parameters for ranking of scientific journals. Examples of this kind increase the reliability of the behavioral principles when these are imposed on the design, performance and use of both the formal and informal channels of the system of scientific communication.

Keywords: Communication, Correlations, Evidence, Indicators, Institute for Scientific Information, Journals, Principles, Ranking, Reliability, Scientific Communication, Scientific Journals, Scientometric, USA, Validity

? Meadows, A.J. (1991), Quantitative Study of Factors Affecting the Selection and Presentation of Scientific Material to the General Public. Scientometrics, 20 (1), 113-119.

Full Text: 1991\Scientometrics20, 113.pdf

Abstract: The science-related material published in newspapers can be analysed to provide insight into the biases and techniques involved in transferring knowledge from the science community to the general public. A part of such studies can be carried out in quantitative terms. Three such quantitative approaches are illustrated here: (1) measurement of space devoted to science, (2) derivation of readability indices, (3) content analysis.

Keywords: Analysis, Community, Knowledge, Measurement, Science, Techniques

? Peritz, B.C. (1991), The citation impact of letters to the editor - The case of Lancet. Scientometrics, 20 (1), 121-129.

Full Text: 1991\Scientometrics20, 121.pdf

Abstract: Letters to the editor published in the Lancet during the first half of 1980 were less cited than the corresponding papers. The average number of citations per letter was larger if the letter contained some substantive information. The longer the letter the more frequently it was cited. Letters that react to some previous publication tend to be shorter than “spontaneous” letters. “Reacting” letters tend to be less cited than spontaneous letters if they are short, more cited if they are longer. Letters with substantive information tend to originate outside the UK in which case they are also more cited.

Keywords: British Science, Citations, Decline, First, Information, Journals, Papers, Publication, UK

? Pravdic, N. and Oluić-Vuković, V. (1991), Distribution of scientific productivity: Ambiguities in the assignment of author rank. Scientometrics, 20 (1), 131-144.

Full Text: 1991\Scientometrics20, 131.pdf

Abstract: Methodological implications of four accounting procedures applied in multiple authorship treatment relating to author productivity distribution were investigated. The emphasis was given to the individual author rank and inequality pattern of data. It was found that similar pattern of inequality holds in three of the four analysed cases, in spite of the fact that significant changes were observed on the individual level. By introducing the concept of dual approach a plausible interpretation of that phenomenon was obtained.

Keywords: Author Productivity, Authorship, Bradford, Changes, Inequality, Lotka Law, Multiple Authorship, Procedures, Science, Treatment

Vinkler, P. (1991), Possible causes of differences in information impact of journals from different subfields. Scientometrics, 20 (1), 145-161.

Full Text: 1991\Scientometrics20, 145.pdf

Abstract: Differences in size, mean number of references per paper in journals, ageing of information and disciplinarity of some subfields in chemistry were studied in order to explain different average impact factors for journals. A new indicator - Standard Journal Impact - is suggested, which may be used as a standardized (i.e. comparable) impact indicator for journals in different subfields. The main reason for the lower impact factor for journals of the macromolecular chemistry subfield may be the lower extent of the application of their results by other subfields

Keywords: Ageing, Bibliometric Indicators, Chemistry, Citation, Impact Factor, Impact Factors, Indicator, Information, Journals, Size

? Todorov, R. and Winterhager, M. (1991), An overview of Moravcsik, Mike publication activity in physics. Scientometrics, 20 (1), 163-172.

Full Text: 1991\Scientometrics20, 163.pdf

Abstract: A bibliometric online technique is applied on data from the INSPEC bibliographic file to describe some aspects of Moravcsik’s publication activity (co-authorship, source journals, etc.). Separately, a co-occurrence method is used to represent the subject structure (the main topics and their links) of his papers in physics. The principle underlying this method is to develop a network based on common appearances of classification subdivisions (headings) as well as of controlled terms in Moravcsik’s document records. The results, in the form of line and point graphs, give a global picture of Mike Moravcsik’s research profile in physics.

Keywords: Bibliometric, Classification, Co-Authorship, Coauthorship, Journals, Network, Papers, Publication, Publication Activity, Records, Research, Science, Structure

Archibald, G. and Line, M.B. (1991), The size and growth of serial literature 1950-1987, in terms of the number of articles per serial. Scientometrics, 20 (1), 173-196.

Full Text: 1991\Scientometrics20, 173.pdf

Abstract: It is commonly stated and believed that scholarly and scientific journal literature is growing exponentially. To obtain a truer picture of the situation, a study was made of a sample of 190 journals that started life in or before 1950, 20 in each of 9 subject fields, plus 10 extra in literature. The number of articles in each journal in 1950, 1960, 1970, 1980 and 1987 was counted. The analysis showed a rapid growth in most subjects up to 1970, a much slower growth between 1976 and 1980, and a slow growth or decline between 1980 and 1987, the fields of decline included general and physical science and technology. The total number of journals is still increasing, but the rate of growth has dropped dramatically over the last ten years. Although it is possible that more recently established journals would show a different pattern, it seems likely that the overall rate of growth of the total number of journal articles is slow.

Keywords: Analysis, Growth, Journal, Journal Articles, Journals, Life, Literature, Science, Science and Technology, Technology

Singh, U.N. and Arunachalam, S. (1991), Publication and citation patterns in the literature of liquid crystals with special reference to the contribution of India, Canada, Japan, United Kingdom and the Soviet Union. Scientometrics, 20 (1), 197-220.

Full Text: 1991\Scientometrics20, 197.pdf

Abstract: From an analysis of bibliographic data on 430 journal articles on liquid crystals covered in Physics Abstracts 1976 and the 4729 citations to them up to the end of 1987, we have identified the geographic origin, the prominent institutions, language and journal-wise distribution of the papers, the citedness of these papers, and the distribution of citations as a time series for the highly cited papers. We have also analysed the 126 papers published by authors from India, Canada, Australia, Israel, Japan and the United Kingdom and covered in Physics Abstracts 1978, and the 1154 citations to them up to 1987. Unlike in most other high tech areas of physics, in LC research the difference in performance between the USA and the other leading countries is not very pronounced. Publication data from 1976, 1978 and 1985 reveal that LC literature is on the rise and that the percentage share of the Soviet Union is rising fast and that of the USA is on the decline

Keywords: Analysis, Australia, Bibliometric Analysis, Canada, Citations, Countries, India, Institutions, Israel, Japan, Journal, Journal Articles, Journals, Liquid Crystals, Literature, Origin, Papers, Research, Science, Superconductivity, United Kingdom, USA

? Lindsey, D. (1991), The relationship between performance indicators for academic research and funding - Developing a measure of return on investment in science. Scientometrics, 20 (1), 221-234.

Full Text: 1991\Scientometrics20, 221.pdf

Abstract: Public universities reflect the aspirations a state or society has for its young people and for itself. In this study our interest has been to examine the level of public funding for universities and its relation to quality. In order to do this we collected funding data for a sample American universities. Additionally, we collected data on the production of science by faculty at the institutions in our American sample. The results indicated a strong relation between investment in higher education and quality. We then developed a measure of return on investment in research which combined these measures of funding and research production. We conclude by examining the nature of the relationship between funding and research quality at public universities.

Keywords: Education, Faculty, Higher Education, Institutions, Quality, Research, Research Quality, Science, Society, Universities

? Peters, H.P.F. and Van Raan, A.F.J. (1991), Structuring scientific activities by co-author analysis: An exercise on a university faculty level. Scientometrics, 20 (1), 235-255.

Full Text: 1991\Scientometrics20, 235.pdf

Abstract: In this paper we apply ‘co-author analysis’ to create from a large set of publications clusters of collaborating researchers within a faculty of chemical engineering. Results have been discussed with an expert. The co-author clusters appeared to be meaningful, with respect to the identification of research groups, the relations within these groups, as well as to relations between these groups and changes in time. Also differences between ISI-based and non-ISI based maps proved to be consistent with the expert’s opinion. Many clusters represent collaborating authors grouped around a full professor, mostly the department chairman. Co-author analysis can be used, for example, as an important tool in evaluative bibliometrics in order to make a first identification of research groups in ‘unknown’ universities or organizations.

Keywords: Analysis, Bibliometrics, Changes, Disciplinary, Faculty, First, Identification, Publications, Relations, Research, Science, Universities

? Pao, M.L. (1991), On the relationship of funding and research publications. Scientometrics, 20 (1), 257-281.

Full Text: 1991\Scientometrics20, 257.pdf

Abstract: The impact of a 17 year period of funding in schistosomiasis research on publication outcome was examined. Two productivity and three quality indicators were used to compare the output from the entire population of schistosomiasis in this period with those associated with 351 funded researchers. A substantially higher productivity and citation impact were found. This consistency of direction points to the positive effect of a period of sustained funding commitment.

Keywords: Assessing Basic Research, Citation, Commitment, Countries, Impact, Indicators, NIH, Output, Population, Publication, Quality, Research, Research Performance, Science, System

? Eto, H. (1991), Science revolution and ortega hypothesis in developing-countries. Scientometrics, 20 (1), 283-295.

Full Text: 1991\Scientometrics20, 283.pdf

Abstract: The science revolution, the “paradigm” change and the Ortega hypothesis on the role of average scientists are discussed in the context of catchup of developing countries. The relative weight of scientific fields is compared between countries as revealing their values on science. Finding some significant difference between countries, the role of developing countries is discussed in view of a possible science revolution, the “paradigm” change and the Ortega hypothesis.

Keywords: Big Science, Science, World

Sengupta, I.N. and Kumari, L. (1991), Bibliometric analysis of AIDS literature. Scientometrics, 20 (1), 297-316.

Full Text: 1991\Scientometrics20, 297.pdf

Abstract: In accordance with high incidence of AIDS cases, there is an epidemic growth of its literature. This unprecedented growth of literature calls for serious scientometric study. Such a study will not only help the scientometrists, information scientists, but also will be very useful to the related research workers. With this in view an attempt has been made to analyse AIDS literature published during the period 1976-1986 to identify its international channel of communication, medium of communication, contributing countries, authorship trends etc. This study is based on data printed in a source document entitled Collected Papers on AIDS Research, 1976-1986 published by BIOSIS which is retrospective bibliography incorporating valuable references to research on AIDS from 9,000 source titles monitored in BIOSIS data base. The findings of this study have also been compared to those of Wyatt and Self, Filardo and Lancaster.

Keywords: AID, AIDS, Authorship, Communication, Data Base, Deficiency Syndrome AIDS, Epidemic, Growth, Incidence, Information, International, Literature, Research, Scientometric, Trends

? Schubert, A. and Glänzel, W. (1991), Publication dynamics - Models and indicators. Scientometrics, 20 (1), 317-331.

Full Text: 1991\Scientometrics20, 317.pdf

Abstract: Models and indicators characterizing the dynamics of national publication productivity distributions are presented. The indicator triplet: transience, renewal, and dynamism is used to describe the “physical shape” of a national scientific community.

Keywords: Community, Dynamics, Indicator, Indicators, Publication, World

Martin, B.R. (1991), The bibliometric assessment of UK scientific performance: A reply to Braun, Glánzel and Schubert. Scientometrics, 20 (2), 333-357.

Full Text: 1991\Scientometrics20, 333.pdf

Abstract: In 1987, an analysis of the CHI, NSF Science Literature Indicators Data-Base by the author and his colleagues suggested that the UK’s percentage share of the world publication and citation totals had continued to fall over 1981-84, although at a slower rate than previously. That finding has recently been challenged by Braun, Glänzel and Schubert who, by combining 28 publication-based indicators, concluded that there was no statistically significant evidence for such a decline. This paper examines the reasons for the discrepancy. It is argued that the methodology of Braun et al. is seriously flawed, as well as being inconsistent with work that they have published elsewhere. By adopting a more consistent and realistic set of indicators and applying them to the data of Braun et al., one arrives at results entirely consistent with those derived from the CHI, NSF data-base.

Keywords: Analysis, Basic Research, British Science, Citation, Data Base, Database, Decline, Evidence, Indicators, Methodology, National Performance, Publication, Science Citation Index, Work

Braun, T., Glänzel, W. and Schubert, A. (1991), The bibliometric assessment of UK scientific performance: Some comments on martin’s ‘reply’. Scientometrics, 20 (2), 359-362.

Full Text: 1991\Scientometrics20, 359.pdf

Abstract: No new arguments or evidence that undermine our conviction that available scientometric measures do not indicate a statistically significant ‘decline’ of British science in the first half of the eighties have been found in Martin’s reply.

Keywords: Evidence, First, Science, Scientometric

Leydesdorff, L. (1991), On the ‘scientometric decline’ of British Science: One additional graph in reply to Ben Martin. Scientometrics, 20 (2), 363-367.

Full Text: 1991\Scientometrics20, 363.pdf

Abstract: With respect to the issue of whether the scientometric measurement of ‘the decline of British science’ is an artifact of the specific database and underlying assumptions in methods, I argue that there are fewer analytical objections against measurement by using SciSearch Online than against other methods (based on the ‘fixed journal set’ and ‘fractional counting’). The measurement of ‘international co-authorship’, i.e. a network indicator, should not be confounded with measurement of performance of a single nation. The time series for the different subsets of UK-publications, which have been proposed, are given. None of the indicators can be shown to exhibit a trend (in contrast to a drift). The hypothesis of a decline has therefore to be rejected.

Keywords: Assumptions, Database, Indicator, Indicators, Journal, Measurement, Methods, Network, Scientometric

Kealey, T. (1991), Government-Funded Academic Science is a consumer good, not A producer good: A comparative reassessment of Britain’s Scientific and Technological Achievements since 1794 and a comment on the bibliometry of B. Martin and J. Irvine. Scientometrics, 20 (2), 369-394.

Full Text: 1991\Scientometrics20, 369.pdf

Abstract: Martin and Irvine believe that their bibliometric data indicates that British science is in decline. This paper shows that, in fact, their data points to a considerable expansion in British science. To account for different countries’ scientific performance, this paper generates simple predictive formulae that correlate Gross National Product with research output.

Keywords: Bibliometric, Britain, British Science, Decline, Facts, Figures, Research, Science

? Cohen, J.E. (1991), Size, age and productivity of scientific and technical research groups. Scientometrics, 20 (3), 395-416.

Full Text: 1991\Scientometrics20, 395.pdf

Abstract: Varied empirical studies show that the average output (measured in various ways) of a scientific or technical research group is directly proportional to its size (also measured in various ways), when the size and output are measured independently. Hence groups of different sizes have the same average output per unit of size. There is no reliable evidence for the existence of a size or a range of sizes for a research group that maximizes output per unit of size. Present theoretical explanations for the proportionality between size and output are largely inadequate or untested. Similarly, among reported results on group age and output, the only consistency so far is that age, measured as years since the founding or first functioning of the group, is uncorrelated with output per capita. Again, there is no evidence for the existence of an age or a range of ages for a research group that is optimal.

Keywords: Evidence, First, Laboratory Size, Physics, Publication Rate, Research, Science, Size

? Logan, E.L. and Shaw, W.M., Jr. (1991), A bibliometric analysis of collaboration in a medical specialty. Scientometrics, 20 (3), 417-426.

Full Text: 1991\Scientometrics20, 417.pdf

Abstract: Investigating the relationships found in the documentation of a subject field is one method of examining the communication taking place in the field. Bibliometrics provides an objective method for this type of investigation. Coauthorship, while intuitively seeming to indicate strong communication links, nevertheless has been shown to produce graphical structures that vary with changes in threshold. Having determined that clustering structure does exist in the data, preferred partitions are identified as those least likely to have occurred by chance. Further analysis is made to test that the preferred or ‘meaningful’ structures produced from the coauthor relationship do indeed correspond with empirical evidence of ‘meaning’. A small dataset of 371 authors and 550 coauthor pairs is used to investigate correspondence between experimental structures and empirical evidence. Results show that components of the experimental structures are largely consistent with subject content groups as determined by index terms. Geographic focus accounts for about half the cases showing term overlap. Hence, we have some evidence that bibliometric structures determined from the coauthor relationship may be consistent with networks of communication. If this continues to be documented by further research, bibliometric analysis of coauthor relationships found in the scholarly communication of a subject area can become a basic tool for communication research.

Keywords: Analysis, Bibliometric, Bibliometric Analysis, Bibliometrics, Changes, Clustering, Communication, Documentation, Evidence, Experimental, Graph, Investigation, Research, Scholarly Communication, Small, Structure

? Richards, J.M. (1991), Years cited - An alternative measure of scientific accomplishment. Scientometrics,