Personal Research Database

Full Text: 1993\Scientometrics26, 21.pdf

Abstract: One of the most crucial points of citation-based assessments is to find proper reference standards to which the otherwise meaningless plain citation counts can be compared. Using such standards, mere absolute numbers can be turned into relative indicators, suitable for cross-national and cross-field comparisons. In the present study, three possible choice of reference standards for citation assessments are discussed. Citation rates of publications under study can be compared to the average citation rates of the papers of the publishing journals to result in Relative Citation Rate (RCR), an indicator successfully used in several comparative scientometric analyses (see, e.g. Refs 1-5). A more ‘customized’ reference set is defined by the related records in the new CD Edition of the Science Citation Index database. Using the so-called ‘bibliographic coupling’ technique, a set of papers with a high measure of similarity in their list of references is assigned to every single paper of the database. Beside of being an excellent retrieval tool, related records provide a suitable reference set to assess the relative standing of a given set of papers as measured by citation indicators. The third choice introduced in this study is specifically designed for assessing journals. For this purpose, the sa of journals cited by the journal in question seems to be a useful basis to compare with. The pros and cons of the three choices are discussed and several examples are given.

Keywords: CD, Citation, Citation Counts, Countries, Database, Facts, Figures, Impact, Indicator, Indicators, Journal, Journals, Life Sciences, Newest Version, Papers, Physics, Publication Output, Publications, Publishing, Records, Science Citation Index, Scientometric, Similarity, Standards

? Bonitz, M., Bruckner, E. and Scharnhorst, A. (1993), The Science Strategy Index. Scientometrics, 26 (1), 37-50.

Full Text: 1993\Scientometrics26, 37.pdf

Abstract: A new indicator, Science Strategy Index, is proposed, which is based on the scattering of a country’s science activity over all science fields and related to the world distribution of the science fields. The indicator allows to compare the structure of the publication output of countries as reflected by the used database, irrespective of the size of the countries. If the science structure of each country is related for comparison to that one of each other country, the indicator converts into a structural measure which enables to cluster countries according to their structural similarity. The cluster map of countries achieved in this way deserved intense discussion upon the different science strategies of countries and their geographic, political, communicative, and socio-cultural background.

Keywords: Comparison, Countries, Database, Indicator, Publication, Scattering, Science, Similarity, Size, Structure

? Czerwon, H.J. and Havemann, F. (1993), Influence of publication languages on the citation rate of scientific articles - A case-study of East German journals. Scientometrics, 26 (1), 51-63.

Full Text: 1993\Scientometrics26, 51.pdf

Abstract: In order to quantify the influence of publication languages on the rate of citation of scientific articles, such East German journals from the Science Citation Index database were selected which publish relevant shares of contributions in several languages, especially in English and German. For a fixed period of time (1988) the selective citation impact of both English- and German-language articles was calculated. The results of our investigation reveal a non-uniform picture: In some cases English-language papers exhibit a significantly higher citations-per-paper average than German-language articles, but in a few cases German-language publications achieve a higher mean citation rate. For the half of selected journals there does not exist a statistically significant difference of citation frequencies of publications in both languages. Possible causes of these phenomena (editorial practice of journals, native countries of authors) are considered.

Keywords: Citation, Database, Investigation, Journals, Languages, Papers, Practice, Publication, Publications, Science Citation Index

? De Bruin, R. and Moed, J. (1993), Delimitation of scientific subfields using cognitive words from corporate addresses in scientific publications. Scientometrics, 26 (1), 65-80.

Full Text: 1993\Scientometrics26, 65.pdf

Abstract: An appropriate delimitation of scientific subfields constitutes one of the key problems in bibliometrics. Several methods have been explored for this task. The main ones are co-citation analysis, co-word analysis, the use of indexing systems based on controlled or uncontrolled keywords, and finally the use of a classification of scientific journals into subfields or categories. In our contribution we will explore a new method, which is based on cognitive words from addresses (corporate sources) in scientific publications. Cognitive address words are words referring to scientific (sub)fields, methods or objects of research, that appear in the institutional affiliations of the publishing authors (e.g., ‘Department of Pharmacology,’ AIDS Research Center’). We will focus on the Science Citation Index (SCI), published by the Institute for Scientific Information. Our methods will be applied to a multidisciplinary set of articles extracted from the journals Science and Nature.

Keywords: AID, AIDS, Analysis, Bibliometrics, Classification, Co-Citation, Co-Citation Analysis, Cocitation, Institute For Scientific Information, Journals, Methods, Multidisciplinary, Publications, Publishing, Research, SCI, Science Citation Index, Scientific Journals, Scientific Publications

? Glänzel, W. and Schubert, A. (1993), A characterization of scientometric distributions based on harmonic means. Scientometrics, 26 (1), 81-96.

Full Text: 1993\Scientometrics26, 81.pdf

Abstract: The traditional stochastic approach to scientometric and bibliometric phenomena is based on measuring the absolute number of objects (e.g., publications, topics, citations). These measures reflect underlying rules such as the cumulative advantage principle and lead to classical statistical functions such as arithmetic mean and standard deviation. An alternative measure based on the contribution share of an individual object in the entirety of related objects reveals more about the coherence in the analyzed structure. This approach is connected with (conditional) harmonic means. The analysis of the properties of these statistical functions leads to a special urn-model distribution which has an analogous behaviour to that of the Waring distribution in connection with conditional arithmetic means. The new distribution combines specific properties (long tail, flexibility of the distribution shape) of the two scientometric favourites, the Waring and the negative binomial distribution. Five methods of parameter estimation are presented. The fit and the properties of this special urn-model distribution are illustrated by three scientometric examples, particularly, by two citation rate distributions with different shapes and one publication activity distribution with lacking zero frequencies.

Keywords: Alternative, Analysis, Behaviour, Bibliometric, Citation, Citations, Flexibility, Functions, Lead, Methods, Publication, Publication Activity, Publications, Scientometric, Standard, Structure

? Kretschmer, H. (1993), Measurement of social stratification: A contribution to the dispute on the Ortega hypothesis. Scientometrics, 26 (1), 97-113.

Full Text: 1993\Scientometrics26, 97.pdf

Abstract: Some discussion papers about the ORTEGA hypothesis were published in Scientometrics. One aspect of these discussions was the necessity for the future extension of empirical research to gain a better foundation for the acceptance or refutation of the Ortega hypothesis which states that the research done by average scientists substantially contributes to the advance of science. In this direction an empirical study about the stratification in coauthorship networks is represented in this paper. It was tested whether the extent of stratification decreases with the increasing number of coauthors per paper.

Keywords: Acceptance, Citation, Coauthorship, Papers, Research, Science, Scientists, Scientometrics

? Van Leeuwen, T. and Tijssen, T. (1993), Assessing multidisciplinary areas of science and technology: A synthetic bibliometric study of Dutch nuclear energy research. Scientometrics, 26 (1), 115-133.

Full Text: 1993\Scientometrics26, 115.pdf

Abstract: This paper presents a selection of results of a comprehensive quantitative, research literature-based study of Dutch energy research. The primary goal of this paper is to provide an overview of what bibliometfic data from ISI and non-lSI databases may offer to describe the state of affairs in a scientific field. It illustrates the added value of combining bibliometric indicators of publication output, international visibility, international co-operation, and interdisciplinarity in a study of nuclear energy research in the 1980’s when its budget decreased dramatically.

Keywords: Bibliometric, Bibliometric Indicators, Budget, Cooperation, Indicators, Interdisciplinarity, International, International Co-Operation, International Cooperation, ISI, Primary, Publication, Research

Leydesdorff, L. and Cozzens, S.E. (1993), The delineation of specialities in terms of journals using the dynamic journal set of the SCI. Scientometrics, 26 (1), 135-156.

Full Text: 1993\Scientometrics26, 135.pdf

Abstract: In order to attribute journals to specialties in a dynamic journal set by using aggregated journal-journal citations derived from the Science Citation Index, it is necessary to complement the multi-variate analysis of this data with a time- series perspective. This calls for a more analytical approach to the problem of choice among the many possible parameters for clustering. Changes in the disciplinary structure of science are tracked by using the differences among the multi-variate analyses for the various years. It is impossible to attribute change systematically to structure, noise, or deviance if these uncertainties are not clearly defined ex ante. The study discusses the various choices which have to be made, in both conceptual and methodological terms In addition to hierarchies among journals, one has to assume heterarchy among journal groups (and their centroids). For comprehensive mapping, a concept of ‘macro-journals’ as representations of a density of points in the multi-dimensional space is defined. Empirical results indicate the feasibility of dynamic journal-journal mapping by using these methods

Keywords: Analysis, Bibliometric Assessment, British Science, Citations, Clustering, Decline, Disciplinary Structure, Journal, Journals, Matrices, Methods, Science, Science Citation Index, Structure, UK Scientific Performance

Mendez, A., Gomez, I. and Bordons, M. (1993), Some indicators for assessing research performance without citations. Scientometrics, 26 (1), 157-167.

Full Text: 1993\Scientometrics26, 157.pdf

Abstract: The study aims at designing a set of indicators which, integrated altogether, should be able to inform on the kind of research published in journal articles and its proximity to their specific forefronts. The set of indicators is composed of two subsets, one including information of the authors, ‘research performers indicators’, and other embodying information of the references used, ‘source indicators’. The source indicators are compared with the references pattern of specific paradigmatic journals used as standard framework of the research field. Three case studies dealing with the Spanish research on Immunology, Neurosciences and Pharmacognosy will be presented. The application of the indicators gave the following results: Spanish Immunology published in foreign journals was basic in its scope while the one published in domestic journals dealt with applied and clinical Medicine. Neuroscience published in foreign journals by financed Hospitals appertained to the forefront and presented a broad scope, Neuroscience published in foreign journals by non-financed Hospitals was applied research and Neuroscience published by Universities, also in foreign journals, represented basic research done in a closed system. The case of Spanish Pharmacognosy is more difficult to interpret as three subject fields are involved (Pharmacology, Chemistry and Botany). The indicators did not clearly differentiate between the research published in domestic and foreign journals, although it seems that Spanish scientists are more interested in the pharmacological and botanical aspect of the natural products than in their chemical structure.

Keywords: Case Studies, Clinical, Framework, Indicators, Information, Journal, Journal Articles, Journals, Research, Standard, Structure

? Van Raan, A. and Tussen, R. (1993), The neural net of neural network research: An exercise in bibliometric mapping. Scientometrics, 26 (1), 169-192.

Full Text: 1993\Scientometrics26, 169.pdf

Abstract: In this paper we discuss the limits and potentials of bibliometric mapping based on a specific co-word analysis. The subject area is neural network research. Our approach is a ‘simulation’ of expert assessment by offering the reader a narrative of the field which can be used as background information when ‘reading’ the bibliometric maps. The central issue in the applicability of bibliometric maps is whether these maps may supply ‘additional intelligence’ to users. In other words, whether such a bibliometric tool has an epistemological value, in the sense that it ecriches existing knowledge by supplying ‘unexpected’ relations between specific ‘pieces’ of knowledge (‘synthetic value’) or by supplying ‘unexpected’ problems (‘creative value’). We argue that sophisticated bibliometric mapping techniques are indeed valuable for further exploration of these ‘epistemological’ potentials. In particular, these techniques may open new avenues to study science as a self-organizing system in the form of a ‘neural network like’ structure of which the bibliometric map is a first-order approximation. In that sense, this paper deals with the ‘neural net of neural network research’ as our bibliometric techniques in fact mimic a connectionistic approach.

Keywords: Analysis, Assessment, Bibliometric, Bibliometric Mapping, Bibliometric Techniques, Citation, Combined Cocitation, Information, Knowledge, Network, Neural Network, Reading, Relations, Research, Science, Simulation, Structure, Techniques, Word Analysis

? Schmoch, U. (1993), Tracing the knowledge transfer from science to technology as reflected in patent indicators. Scientometrics, 26 (1), 193-211.

Full Text: 1993\Scientometrics26, 193.pdf

Abstract: The use of references of patent search reports as transfer indications needs a good theoretical understanding of the underlying examination procedures. On this background, different patent indicators based on sample patents and on respective references can be established and combined to a network which gives an interesting insight into the complex process of knowledge transfer from science to technology.

Keywords: Examination, Indications, Indicators, Knowledge, Needs, Network, Patent, Patents, Procedures, Science, Technology, Understanding

? Vinkler, P. (1993), Research contribution, authorship and team cooperativeness. Scientometrics, 26 (1), 213-230.

Full Text: 1993\Scientometrics26, 213.pdf

Abstract: Activity shares in different types of research work for coauthors of scientific papers were detected by questionnaire methods. It was found e.g. that first authors perform about 70% of the total work needed for two authored papers, which decreases to 34% for papers with five authors. From Total Activity Shares determined for coauthors Total Team Contribution Factors could be calculated for cooperating teams. Total as well as Intramural and Extramural Team Cooperativeness for research teams were obtained by relating shares of impact factor scores for the investigated teams to the total.

Keywords: First, Impact Factor, Impact Factor Scores, Indicators, Methods, Papers, Questionnaire, Research, Research Collaboration, Research Work, Scientists, Work

? Courtial, J.P., Callon, M. and Sigogneau, A. (1993), The use of patent titles for identifying the topics of invention and forecasting trends. Scientometrics, 26 (2), 231-242.

Full Text: 1993\Scientometrics26, 231.pdf

Abstract: Co-word analysis applied to patents through WPIL normalized title words appears to give a useful picture of a given field: we obtain both qualitative (themes) and quantitative information (weight of themes). It also gives information about the strategic aspects of the themes. Furthermore, in some cases, it is an indication of the future of certain themes that may help forecasting and management studies. Finally, it provides information about what could be a real technology growth process, in relation to the so-called translation model used in co-word analysis.

Keywords: Analysis, Co-Word Analysis, Forecasting, Growth, Information, Management, Model, Network, Patents, Polymer Chemistry, Qualitative, Technological Research, Technology, Tool, Translation

? Bonheim, H. (1993), The reception of Polish philology abroad. Scientometrics, 26 (2), 243-253.

Full Text: 1993\Scientometrics26, 243.pdf

Abstract: A bibliometric survey of 28 scholars named in Poland as being the leading scholars in the fields of Linguistics and of English and American Studies shows that only five of them had done work which was cited more than once a year during the eleven years 1980 to 1990. The reasons are apparently not only the poverty of the libraries currently available in Poland but also the restricted selection of Polish journals represented in the citation indices. Suggestions are made as to how good scholarly work done in Poland could be made better known in the rest of the world.

Keywords: Bibliometric, Bibliometric Survey, Citation, Journals, Poverty, Survey, Work

? Hussain, S.S.M. and Nunez, D.A. (1993), British otorhinolaryngological research - An analysis of publication trends. Scientometrics, 26 (2), 255-262.

Full Text: 1993\Scientometrics26, 255.pdf

Abstract: 1081 otorhinolaryngological articles originating from departments in the British Isles, published in 8 leading English language speciality journals from 1985-1989 were analysed to determine author and content trends. Articles were classified as clinical investigative, laboratory based, case report or review/editorial. The institution of origin, total number of authors and identity of the first three were recorded. There is evidence of an increase in published British otolaryngological research and in the extent of researcher collaboration.

Keywords: Clinical, Collaboration, Evidence, First, Journals, Medical Journals, Origin, Research, Trends

? Liming, L. and Lihua, L. (1993), Scientific publication activities of 32 countries - Zipf-Pareto distribution. Scientometrics, 26 (2), 263-273.

Full Text: 1993\Scientometrics26, 263.pdf

Abstract: The paper examines the qualitative as well as quantitative indicators for the assessment of the scientific publication activities of 32 countries, with special attention to the Zipf-Pareto distribution of those indicators. Also discussed is the linear relationship between the number of first authors of scientific papers in a given country and the number of papers it produced. Based on these discussions, a comprehensive indicator combining the merits of quantitative and qualitative indicators is suggested. The ranking of the 32 countries by this indicator is found to follow also Zipf-Pareto distribution.

Keywords: Assessment, First, Indicator, Indicators, Papers, Publication, Qualitative, Ranking

? Whitney, G. (1993), Patterns of authorship in major bibliographic databases - The European region. Scientometrics, 26 (2), 275-292.

Full Text: 1993\Scientometrics26, 275.pdf

Abstract: European authorship trends in fifteen major scientific and technical bibliographic databases on the DIALOG information system are examined for works published between 1970 and 1990. There was an increasing number of records with European authors in 21% of the data set. In 6%, an overall decline was found. In 52%, authorship increased into the 1980’s, and then declined. The mort heavily represented countries were the former Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France. Overall, with the exception of MEDLINE, BIOSIS, and INSPEC, coverage of the works of European authors has been declining over the past twenty years and particularly so in the last five.

Keywords: Authorship, France, Germany, Information, MEDLINE, Records, Trends, United Kingdom

? Caraca, J.M.G., Dasilva, C.M. and Massimo, L. (1993), Research-and-development indicators and socioeconomic cohesion. Scientometrics, 26 (2), 293-309.

Full Text: 1993\Scientometrics26, 293.pdf

Abstract: An indicator was developed to analyze the distribution of EC support to research projects in the less favoured peripheral regions of Europe, compared to support in the economically stronger com regions. For this purpose it was assumed that in theory EC research funds and contracts would tend, on average, to be allocated according to the scientific potential of each country or region. An R & D activity is considered to contribute to socio-economic cohesion if the share obtained by the less favoured regions is larger than their share of the total European scientific potential. This assessment was made both for the total of all R & D activities and for each specific research programme. It emerges that the requirement for high scientific standards is not an obstacle to the participation of less favoured regions in Community research.

Keywords: Assessment, EC, Europe, Indicator, Potential, Requirement, Research, Standards, Theory

? Hemlin, S. (1993), Scientific quality in the eyes of the scientist - A questionnaire study. Scientometrics, 27 (1), 3-18.

Full Text: 1993\Scientometrics27, 3.pdf

Abstract: In a questionnaire study Swedish university scientists in different research areas were asked about their conceptions of scientific quality. The items concerned relationships between quality and the research effort, the researcher, the research environment, research effects, research policy and organization, research financing and research evaluation. 224 persons (56% of the sample) answered. Results showed that researchers shared views on scientific quality, but there were also a number of differences between soft and hard sciences. It is concluded that the differences largely support the distinction between “human” and natural sciences, as well as the one between pre-paradigmatic and paradigmatic sciences. Implications for the evaluation of research are discussed.

Keywords: Environment, Evaluation, Financing, Policy, Quality, Questionnaire, Research, Research Evaluation, Research Policy, Sciences, University

? Qurashi, M.M. (1993), Dependence of publication-rate on size of some university groups and departments in UK and Greece in comparison with NCI, USA. Scientometrics, 27 (1), 19-38.

Full Text: 1993\Scientometrics27, 19.pdf

Abstract: In a series of studies aimed at investigating the dependence of per-capita research output (R), of an interacting group of research workers, on the size of the group, the author had shown that the per-capita research output of various research groups and institutes in U. S. A., U. K., Pakistan and Bangladesh shows an initial approximately linear rise, followed by one or more mixima, the first one being at group size of 6 to 8 persons. In the present communication, we present a fine analysis of the reported data for (a) physics departments of U. K. universities (in 1985-86) and (b) mathematics departments of two universities in Greece (from 1975 to 1984), using close sampling-intervals of DELTAN = 2 and 3 for group-sizes. The results of this reanalysis show that the data for U. K. physics departments exhibits a series of peaks of per-capita research output (R) at N = 11, 19, 25, 36, 46, etc., which compare well with the corresponding maxima already found in the 1977 per-capita output of National Cancer Institute, U. S. A., at N = 7, 15, 26, 34 and 44. Comparison of these two yields the following mean positions for the five peaks viz N = 9±2, 17±2, 26±0, 35±1 and 45±1. These appear to be close to multiples of 8.5, indicating the possibility that a sub-group of 8 to 9 persons could be forming a basic unit of interaction in these particular research groups. The data from the mathematics departments of two Greek universities, which falls in the range of N = 20 to N = 44, also shows two maxima, of per-capita output at N = 27 and 34.5 (and possibly one at about 18), which fit in well with the pattern described above. It appears likely that the above concept could open up new avenues in management practices. Accordingly, further studies are in hand on the relevant characteristics of the output of various institutes and, if possible, a fuller study of size and nature of the sub-groups noted above.

Keywords: Analysis, Bangladesh, Communication, First, Greece, Interaction, Laboratory Size, Management, Pakistan, Research, Size, Universities

? Nederhof, A.J. and Moed, H.F. (1993), Modeling multinational publication - Development of an online fractionation approach to measure national scientific output. Scientometrics,