Personal Research Database

Full Text: 1991\Scientometrics22, 253.pdf

Abstract: The strategy of judging the quality of scientific research by the level of funding it attracts is critically examined. It is argued that an index such as per capita research income, which is based on grant-giver peer review, yields an unsatisfactory measure of scientific performance. It fails to fulfil a basic requirement of a performance indicator, namely, that it should relate outputs to inputs. It has intrinsically low validity, and is strongly confounded with a variety of extraneous factors that are unrelated to research performance.

Keywords: Departments, Indicator, Peer Review, Peer-Review, Quality, Requirement, Research, Research Performance, Review, Scientific Research, UGC Evaluation, Validity

? Jaschek, C. (1991), The size of the astronomical community. Scientometrics, 22 (2), 265-282.

Full Text: 1991\Scientometrics22, 265.pdf

Abstract: The number of astronomers living at different times is analyzed, from the classic antiquity to modern times through the different available statistics. For present times the number is estimated to be about 9.000, this number grows exponentially. A zero order model is proposed to pass from the annual number of authors of papers to the number of active astronomers.

Keywords: Living, Model, Papers, Statistics

Sengupta, I.N. and Henzler, R.G. (1991), Citedness and uncitedness of cancer articles. Scientometrics, 22 (2), 283-296.

Full Text: 1991\Scientometrics22, 283.pdf

Abstract: There is a rapid growth of cancer literature. Thousands of papers are being regularly published every year not only in speciality journals, but also in journals of other disciplines. Citation studies are nowadays considered a major basis of science indicators for ascertaining the importance of a scientific journal and that of the published articles on a particular subject. In oncological research the journal Cancer is considered as one of the top most journals and is universally well known for its high standard and excellence. In this paper an attempt has been made to find out the importance of all the articles published in it for a particular year. Side by side bibliometric analysis was made to ascertain various other aspects like time lag between publication and first citation of articles, average citation time, subject scattering and identification of most important journals in the field etc. It is believed that this study would be of help to the working oncologists, librarians and information scientists to assess the importance of articles published in a top ranking journal of cancer and also that of different journals publishing oncological research results.

Keywords: Analysis, Bibliometric, Bibliometric Analysis, Cancer, Citation, First, Growth, Identification, Indicators, Information, Journal, Journals, Literature, Papers, Publication, Publishing, Ranking, Research, Scattering, Science, Science Indicators, Standard

? Cano, V. and Lind, N.C. (1991), Citation life-cycles of 10 citation-classics. Scientometrics, 22 (2), 297-312.

Full Text: 1991\Scientometrics22, 297.pdf

Abstract: Not all highly cited papers have the same citation life cycle curves, i.e. curves of frequency of citations received vs. time. The citation life of ten randomly selected Citation Classics, five in medicine and five in biochemistry, are studied longitudinally in time and compared with a random sample of ten non-classics of the same cohort. There are pronounced differences in the life cycle curves, two distinct types are suggested. Type A, comprised of both high and low cited papers in both fields, has an early peak of citation rate and may be approximated by a bilinear cumulative citation curve with a break at six years of age, when three quarters of the total number of citations have occurred. Type B, in this study comprised of extremely highly cited methodological Citation Classics, exhibit a constant or slowly accelerating growth rate with a vigorous citation life extending over the entire period studied and typically one third or less of the total citations accumulated at six years of age.

Keywords: Biochemistry, Citation, Citations, Growth, Growth Rate, Life, Medicine, Papers, Patterns, Random Sample

? Lindsey, D. (1991), Precision in the manuscript review process - Hargens and herting revisited. Scientometrics, 22 (2), 313-325.

Full Text: 1991\Scientometrics22, 313.pdf

Abstract: Lindsey recently examined the precision of the manuscript review process using a stochastic model. The study reported that the low reliability found by previous studies results in journals publishing a large number of papers that should otherwise be rejected and rejecting an equally large number of papers that should be accepted. Hargens and Herting have criticized this view. This paper addresses their criticisms. The paper includes an examination of sociology journals using impact scores. The differences between journals is noted. Part of the variation between sociology journals derives from their editorial operations. Central to their editorial operations is the reviewing of manuscripts for publication. Not all journals perform this task equally well. The consequences of poor editorial management are discussed. To improve the quality of published work journals need to reduce the low reliability of the current manuscript review process.

Keywords: Examination, Journals, Management, Model, Papers, Publication, Publishing, Quality, Referees, Reliability, Review, Review Process, Sociology, Stochastic Model, Work

? Frame, J. (1991), Modeling national technological capacity with patent indicators. Scientometrics, 22 (3), 327-339.

Full Text: 1991\Scientometrics22, 327.pdf

Abstract: Scientific, technological, and economic data are investigated for 128 countries. A stepwise regression analysis is carried out on the data, using domestic patent counts as the dependent variable. The form of the regression equations is the Cobb-Douglas production function. The analysis shows that domestic patents (as indicator of national technological capacity, and treated here as the dependent variable) are closely related to GNP (a measure of national economic size), counts of scientific publications (an indicator of scientific capacity), and counts of national patents obtained in the U.S. (a measure of world class technological capacity). Together, these three independent variables account for more than 92 percent of the variance in the dependent variable.

Keywords: Analysis, Capacity, Function, Indicator, Modeling, Patent, Patents, Publications, Regression Analysis, Scientific Publications, Size

? Pianta, M. and Archibugi, D. (1991), Specialization and size of scientific activities - A bibliometric analysis of advanced countries. Scientometrics, 22 (3), 341-358.

Full Text: 1991\Scientometrics22, 341.pdf

Abstract: The relationship between the size of national scientific activities of advanced countries and the degree of specialization by fields of science is examined using bibliometric indicators of the number of papers and of paper citations. A negative relation between the amount of scientific activity and the degree of scientific specialization has emerged, with Japan and, to a lesser extent Italy, showing a specilization degree higher than expected. Countries with established scientific traditions (such as the US, the UK, the Netherlands, and Switzerland) have a lower than expected specialization degree, suggesting a more diversified range of research activities. Over time, however, most countries have reduced their scientific specialization, a pattern which is in contrast with recent research on patents and technological specialization.

Keywords: Bibliometric, Bibliometric Indicators, British Science, Citations, Decline, Indicators, Italy, Japan, Paper Citations, Papers, Patents, Research, Science, Size, Switzerland, The Netherlands, UK, US

? Yamazaki, S. (1991), Academic origin of the 1st professors in American medical-schools before the civil-war. Scientometrics, 22 (3), 359-368.

Full Text: 1991\Scientometrics22, 359.pdf

Abstract: The development of American medical education before the Civil War was studied. One hundred and forty-three first professors in American medical schools before the Civil War were selected, and records of their academic origins, places of birth, and study abroad were collected from various biographical sources. Based on the prosopographical analysis of personal data of first professors, the historical changes and the characteristics in American medical education are discussed.

Keywords: Analysis, Antebellum, Changes, Development, Education, First, Medical, Medical Education, Medical Schools, Records

? Balmer, B. and Martin, B.R. (1991), Who’s doing what in human genome research. Scientometrics, 22 (3), 369-377.

Full Text: 1991\Scientometrics22, 369.pdf

Keywords: Biology, Project

? Schubert, A. and Braun, T. (1992), 3 Scientometric etudes on developing-countries as a tribute to Moravcsik, Michael. Scientometrics, 23 (1), 3-19.

Full Text: 1992\Scientometrics23, 3.pdf

Abstract: The three scientometric etudes presented in this paper are dealing with three aspects of science in developing countries: (1) estimation of scientific manpower and publication potential is given using the Waring model of publication productivity, (2) co-authorship patterns are analyzed to conclude that local interactions among developing countries are dominant, but the historical-political-geographical connections are also vivid, and (3) a “quasi-4D comparison of socio-economic and scientometric indicators is presented using “Chernoff faces”.

Keywords: Citation Impact, Co-Authorship, Coauthorship, Comparison, Distributions, Indicators, Model, Potential, Productivity, Publication, Publication Output, Science, Scientometric

Meneghini, R. (1992), Brazilian production in biochemistry. The question of international versus domestic publication. Scientometrics, 23 (1), 21-30.

Full Text: 1992\Scientometrics23, 21.pdf

Abstract: This work describes a bibliometric survey on scientific production in biochemistry originated from 19 Brazilian institutions, which comprised 487 staff investigators, 70-80% of investigation-active biochemists. These investigators published about 3000 papers in international journals in the period 1970-1985, which generated about 17000 citations from 1983 to 1987, according to the Institute for Scientific Information data base. In this survey we distinguished what we called endogenous articles (produced in Brazil) from exogenous articles (produced abroad by Brazilian biochemists), in terms of the spectrum of journals in which they were published and the number of citations generated per article. A comparison was also performed for the two groups in terms of the impact factor generated by Brazilian articles in a given journal versus the expected impact factor for all articles published in that journal. In all cases we detected a certain disadvantage for endogenous articles, the possible reason of which is discussed. Biochemistry is one of the scientific areas in Brazil in which the investigators make a large effort to publish in international journals. We observed differences in the impact generated by these international papers, when biochemistry was compared with other areas which exhibit the same tendency towards an international output. From these observations we discuss the pertinence of publishing for an international audience as opposed in domestic journals

Keywords: Bibliometric, Bibliometric Survey, Biochemistry, Brazil, Citations, Comparison, Data Base, Impact Factor, Institute for Scientific Information, Institutions, International, Journal, Journals, Papers, Publishing, Scientific Production, Survey, Work

? Sen, B.K. and Shailendra, K. (1992), Evaluation of recent scientific research output by a bibliometric method. Scientometrics, 23 (1), 31-46.

Full Text: 1992\Scientometrics23, 31.pdf

Abstract: Describes a new method of evaluation of scientific output by laboratories engaged in diverse fields of research. This method helps to evaluate those outputs which are quite recent and not amenable to citation analysis. For the purpose of analysis, impact factor of journals in which papers are published are considered. A method for normalisation of impact factor of journals has been described and, normalised impact factors have also been used for the purpose of analysis. It is found that in such analysis normalised impact factor tends to show better results compared to simple impact factor. The analysis helps us to generate numerous performance indicators such as average impact factor and normalised impact factor for each laboratory and the research complex such as CSIR as a whole, average impact factor and normalised impact factor for each scientist of a laboratory and the research complex, spectral distribution of papers falling within various ranges of impact factors and normalised impact factors. By comparing the performances over several years the trend of research activity of each laboratory can also be obtained.

Keywords: Analysis, Citation, Citation Analysis, Evaluation, Impact Factor, Impact Factors, Indicators, Journals, Papers, Research, Scientific Output

? De Arenas, J.L. (1992), Partial assessment of Mexican health sciences research 1982-1986. Scientometrics, 23 (1), 47-56.

Full Text: 1992\Scientometrics23, 47.pdf

Abstract: The paper provides a picture of Mexican health sciences research for the years 1982-1986, measuring, bibliometrically, the size of its scientific activity. The most widely bibliometric indicators for research evaluation, publication count and citation analysis, are combined to determine the degree of production, productivity, and impact. The study also highlights the role of leading research institutions.

Keywords: Analysis, Basic Research, Bibliometric, Bibliometric Indicators, Citation, Citation Analysis, Citation Impact, Countries, Evaluation, Health, Health Sciences, Indicators, Institutions, Publication, Publication Output, Research, Research Evaluation, Sciences, Size

? Gaillard, J. (1992), Use of publication lists to study scientific production and strategies of scientists in developing-countries. Scientometrics, 23 (1), 57-73.

Full Text: 1992\Scientometrics23, 57.pdf

Abstract: A bibliometric study using the lists of publications and work of 207 scientists working in Asia, Latin America and Africa was conducted. Number of authored and co-authored articles published in scientific journals and bulletins, conference papers, books, chapters of books, reports were taken into consideration to measure the total scientific output. Local vs. international production was also determined by scientific fields, geographic areas, sexe and language of publication. Co-authorship studies were also used to particularly measure the degree of collaboration and dependence of Developing Countries’ (DC) scientists on foreign co-authors. An analysis of the references used (age, origins) was also made. Conclusions drawn concern the comparatively specific nature of science produces by DC’s researcher. Partly given the importance of the scientific production published in local journals, the inadequacy of international databases to study Dc science is confirmed. Most of the DC scientists publish in both national and international journals. They often cite their colleagues from the developed countries but their own work being less “visible” is seldom cited.

Keywords: Analysis, Asia, Bibliometric, Bibliometric Study, Co-Authors, Co-Authorship, Collaboration, India, International, Journals, Latin America, Mainstream Science, Papers, Publication, Publications, Science, Scientific Journals, Scientific Output, Scientific Production, Work, World

? Delgado, H. and Russell, J.M. (1992), Impact of studies published in the international literature by scientists at the National-University-of-Mexico. Scientometrics, 23 (1), 75-90.

Full Text: 1992\Scientometrics23, 75.pdf

Abstract: A total of 2192 articles published in the international literature with UNAM (National University of Mexico) first author affiliation and registered by the CICH (Centro de Iformacion Cientifica y Humanistica) BIBLAT database from 1978 - mid-1987 were included in our analysis. Distribution of articles according to the main subject areas of the 692 different journal titles used was as follows: Physics 24.1%, Medicine 19.7%, Biology 19.4%, Chemistry 9.7%, Engineering 8.9%, Exact Sciences 7.3%, Geosciences 4.7%, Psychology 0.96%, Agrosciences 0.27%. Thirty-seven percent of articles were published in journals with a known impact factor for 1987 of less-than-or-equal-to 1, 46.1% (920) in journals within the range of > 1-3 average citations/article and only 16.4% (327) in those titles with a factor > 3. Fifty-four percent (1082) of studies appeared in journals whose total citation count for 1987 was less-than-or-equal-to 5000, 7.3% (146) in journals cited > 50,000 times in that same year. UNAM scientists therefore as a group tend to publish in journals whose articles are not frequently cited in subsequent publications thus limiting their impact and visibility in the international scientific literature.

Keywords: Affiliation, Analysis, Citation, Database, First, Impact Factor, Indicators, International, Journal, Journals, Literature, Mainstream, Mexico, Publication, Publications

? Rabinovich, J.E. (1992), Publications of scientists of developing-countries in international journals - are they channels to the international circuit for colleagues that only publish in national journals - a case-study from the field of ecology in Argentina. Scientometrics, 23 (1), 91-103

Full Text: 1992\Scientometrics23, 91.pdf

Keywords: Argentina, Facts, Impressions, Science, Technology

Notes: UUniversity

Krauskopf, M. (1992), Scientometric indicators as a means to assess the performance of state supported universities in developing countries: The Chilean case. Scientometrics, 23 (1), 105-121.

Full Text: 1992\Scientometrics23, 105.pdf

Abstract: Chilean universities are responsible for more than 80% of the science produced in the country, which in the last 20 years with some periods of great difficulties, has grown more than 600%.

One of the underlying problems of the governments of developing countries to delineate suitable strategies to allocate efficiently the few funds available, has been the absence of clarity to distinguish the individuals and centers committed with competitive scientific research. As a consequence, the state funds, which in part are scarce because the region invest to little in science, do not always reach to the right people and to the right places, amplifying the already existing problems for the good scientists that resist to emigrate.

To evaluate the corresponding situation in Chile, and to follow the results of substantial actions to support the scientific activity in the country, we have examined the performance of state financed universities.

Keywords: Chile, Facts, Figures, Latin-America, Life Sciences, Newest Version, Physics, Publication Output, Relative Citation Impact, Research, Right, Science, Scientific Research, The Good, Universities

? Maciaschapula, C.A. (1992), Patterns of scientific communication among Latin-American countries, in the field of medical-education. Scientometrics, 23 (1), 123-135.

Full Text: 1992\Scientometrics23, 123.pdf

Abstract: This work reports on the medical subject headings that build-up the medical education field in Latin America, through the content and citation analysis of Educacion Medica y Salud (EMS). An attempt was made to establish the articulations between the citing and cited countries in the region. It was generally found that EMS was built-up by subjects of Medical Education, Health Manpower, Water Supply, and Health Policy. Although strongly citing/cited/indexed countries, Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia have not established significant information flows among them. Further research lines are proposed.

Keywords: Analysis, Brazil, Citation, Citation Analysis, Colombia, Education, EMS, Information, Latin America, Medical, Medical Education, Mexico, Research, Work

? Fernandez, M.T., Agis, A., Martin, A., Cabrero, A. and Gomez, I. (1992), Cooperative research projects between the Spanish-National-Research-Council and Latin-American institutions. Scientometrics, 23 (1), 137-148.

Full Text: 1992\Scientometrics23, 137.pdf

Abstract: Research projects in cooperation between Spanish National Research Council and Latin-American Organizations, that have been developed in the last eight years, were studied. Around forty Spanish research institutes have cooperated with Latin-American ones, mostly with Cuba, Chile, Brazil and Mexico. The interpretation of the collaboration rates with the different countries is discussed. Duration of the projects, number of researchers and research output were examined. The cooperation results were quantified through articles, presentations to congresses, reports, monographs, patents and thesis. Diffusion, languages and impact of the journals used for publication were studied. Non quantifiable outputs were also examined.

Keywords: Brazil, Chile, Collaboration, Cooperation, Journals, Languages, Mexico, Patents, Publication, Research

Thomas, S.M. (1992), The evaluation of plant biomass research: A case-study of the problems inherent in bibliometric indicators. Scientometrics, 23 (1), 149-167.

Full Text: 1992\Scientometrics23, 149.pdf

Abstract: The aim of this project was to evaluate research groups working in the broad field of plant biomass in the areas outside the USA and the EC. The assessment had two key elements: the measurement of scientific productivity and the investigation of factors affecting research performance. Research groups were identified from a range of information sources. Data on funding, information access, staffing, publication policy and degree of awareness of other research groups in the field were collected during the course of interviews. Two approaches - bibliometric analysis and peer review - were examined as a means of constructing indicators for assessing research output. Following a critical review of the use of bibliometric indicators in peripheral countries, the results from a study of eight countries are presented. Neither of two indicators employed proved to be a particularly successful method of evaluating research, and this finding is discussed in relation to publication patterns, the nature of the research community and the research field under study. Finally, the use of a ‘peripatetic expert’ was found to have some value as a means of assessment.

Keywords: Access, Analysis, Assessment, Beholder, Bibliometric, Bibliometric Analysis, Bibliometric Indicators, Biomass, Citation, Community, Course, Developed-Countries, EC, Indicators, Information, Interviews, Investigation, Measurement, Peer Review, Peer-Review, Performance, Plant, Policy, Publication, Research, Research Performance, Review, Science, Scientific Activity, USA

? Roseboom, J. and Pardey, P.G. (1992), Measuring the development of national agricultural-research systems. Scientometrics, 23 (1), 169-190.

Full Text: 1992\Scientometrics23, 169.pdf

Abstract: Starting in 1986, a small team at ISNAR has been working to establish a global database on national agricultural research systems. This paper provides an overview of the conceptual and practical difficulties of measuring the capacity of national agricultural research systems. Special attention is given to alternative procedures to translate research expenditures expressed in current local currency units into a constant common numeraire. The paper closes with a preliminary assessment of the development of national agricultural research systems over the period 1961-65 to 1981-85.

Keywords: Alternative, Assessment, Capacity, Database, Development, Procedures, Research, Small

Adamson, I. (1992), Access and retrieval of information as coordinates of scientific development and achievement in Nigeria. Scientometrics,