Personal Research Database

Full Text: 1996\Scientometrics37, 245.pdf

Abstract: This paper presents methods using a large number of quantitative indicators of the overall estimation of national S&T activity. The methods collected here apply multivariate analysis techniques to a set of S&T indicators to investigate its structure and extract a single or a small number of indicators of S&T activity. We perform structural analysis and integration of 14 main S&T indicators in 5 countries, the U.S., Japan, Germany, France and the U.K. Latent variables underlying this set of indicators naturally emerge from this analysis, and from these we were able to extract valuable information concerning the nature of S&T activity in each country. This method was also useful for investigating the nature and interpretation, as well as the reliability, of previous S&T indicators.

Keywords: Analysis, Countries, France, Germany, Indicators, Information, Integration, Interpretation, Japan, Patents, Quantitative, Reliability, Science, Science and Technology, Technology

Tomov, D.T. and Mutafov, H.G. (1996), Comparative indicators of interdisciplinarity in modern science. Scientometrics, 37 (2), 267-278.

Full Text: 1996\Scientometrics37, 267.pdf

Abstract: A set of scientometric indicators of interdisciplinary links between advancing fields of biomedicine is suggested. Twenty journals listed in the JCR of the SCI for 1988 are analyzed. An index of interdisciplinarity for a given journal is calculated as the sum of ratios between the numbers of journals from all other disciplines (except for general-scientific and miscellaneous journals) and from the same discipline cited by that journal or citing it, and of ratios between the numbers of citations to and by these journals. Some interdisciplinary patterns of 20 andrology journal articles are scientometrically assessed, too. The combined usage of this method with coclassification and co-citation methodology can optimize interdisciplinarity evaluation and promotion.

Keywords: Scientific Field, Co-Citations

? Borrons, M., Gomez, I., Fernandez, M., Zulueta, M. and Mendez, A. (1996), Local, domestic and international scientific collaboration in biomedical research. Scientometrics, 37 (2), 279-295.

Full Text: 1996\Scientometrics37, 279.pdf

Abstract: Collaboration practices and partners vary greatly per scientific area and discipline and influence the scientific performance. Bibliometric indicators are used to analyse international, domestic and local collaboration in publications of Spanish authors in three Biomedical subfields: Neurosciences, Gastroenterology and Cardiovascular System as covered by the SCI database. Team size, visibility and basic-applied level of research were analysed according to collaboration scope. International collaboration was linked to higher visibility documents. Cluster analysis of the most productive authors and centres provides a description of collaboration habits and actors in the three subfields. A positive correlation was found between productivity and international and domestic collaboration at the author level.

? Artus, H.M. (1996), Science indicators derived from databases - The case of the social sciences. Scientometrics, 37 (2), 297-311.

Full Text: 1996\Scientometrics37, 297.pdf

Abstract: Quantitative data or indicators derived from databases are usually treated like any other empirical data. In this article, the social character of the different processes leading to them is outlined. As a social process taking place in systemic organizational structures the genesis of such data cannot be reconstructed as sort of mechanical application of formal rules but only as human (and as such: arbitrary) action. As a consequence the discussion of such data or indicators can no longer be subject to methodology alone but requires support by sociology.

Keywords: As, Character, Databases, Human, Indicators, Methodology, Process, Processes, Science, Science Indicators, Sciences, Social, Social Sciences, Sociology

? Hinze, S. and Grupp, H. (1996), Mapping of R and D structures in transdisciplinary areas: New biotechnology in food sciences. Scientometrics, 37 (2), 313-335.

Full Text: 1996\Scientometrics37, 313.pdf

Abstract: This study analyses activities in new biotechnology in food science and technology using bibliometric methods. Multidimensional scaling is used to visualise the structure of the field as represented by scientific literature and patent applications. For the science as well for the technology side increasing activities in the field were found. The specialisation analysis shows above average specialisation at the science and the technology side of the EU member countries (except for Germany) as well as for the USA. Within the EU also less developed countries intensified their R&D activities. At the science side aspects of food safety and quality are highly relevant. These topics are also tackled at the technology side but compared to the science side these sub-fields seem to be still more isolated within the structure of the field. Structural differences between the science and the technology side partly may be explained by special features of the patent law in biotechnology.

Sigogneau, A. (1996), Between policy categories and research activities: Reviews and journals to describe ‘environment’ networks. Scientometrics, 37 (2), 337-348.

Full Text: S\Scientometrics37, 337.pdf

Abstract: This article presents a scientometric procedure which assists in the production of bibliometric indicators for conducting international comparisons about transdisciplinary research field. The procedure aims at the analysis of how a nomenclature in the field of the environment, established by public research administrators, translates into subsets of scientific journals. Relations between the nomenclature and scientific disciplines were obtained through analysis of reviews. The environmental field’s structure has been analysed by using journal cross-citation data.

? de Looze, M.A. (1996), Scientometrics as a tool for analysis of the industrial relationships of two departments in a major French Applied Research Institute, 1988-1992. Scientometrics, 37 (2), 349-360.

Full Text: 1996\Scientometrics37, 349.pdf

Abstract: To study the nature of interactions between the laboratories’ industrial relationships and their scientific policies we posit that by drawing on enhanced knowledge of such interaction, recommendations concerning the management of industrial relationships can be formulated. The tools used are: - extraction of documentary references from PUBINRA (in-house database of publications by INRA researchers) followed by counts per laboratory, characterization of applied and fundamental research publications based on a classification of periodicals’ in the Science Citation Index, updated and completed with the help of researchers from the INRA Departments, mobilization of bibliometric variables in a body of synthesized variables, to account for the role of partnerships in a laboratory’s production.

Keywords: Technology, Science

? Markusova, V.A., Gilyarevskii, R.S., Chernyi, A.I. and Griffith, B.C. (1996), Information behavior of Russian scientists in the “Perestroika” period - Results of the questionnaire survey. Scientometrics, 37 (2), 361-380.

Full Text: 1996\Scientometrics37, 261.pdf

Keywords: Behavior, Questionnaire, Questionnaire Survey, Science, Survey

? (1996), Centre for informetric studies. Scientometrics, 37 (2), 381.

Full Text: 1996\Scientometrics37, 381.pdf

? Breimer, L.H. (1996), Authorship on and usage of published papers in current Swedish biomedical theses (vol 36, pg 255, 1996). Scientometrics, 37 (2), 383.

Full Text: 1996\Scientometrics37, 283.pdf

Keywords: Authorship, Biomedical, Papers

? Lin, Y. (1996), Empirical studies of negative political advertising: A quantitative review using a method of combined citation and content analysis. Scientometrics, 37 (3), 385-399.

Full Text: 1996\Scientometrics37, 385.pdf

Abstract: This study quantitatively reviews the empirical studies of negative political advertising. A method of the combination of citation analysis and content analysis is used. The citation analysis examines each cited work in 20 selected studies with respect to its citation information, and the content analysis investigates these 20 selected studies (citing sources) in terms of their hypotheses, research questions, and methodologies. The aggregated information from the individual cited works and the citing works show that scholars from communication and other disciplines have strong influence on the development of the empirical studies on negative political ads, but communication scholars remain as the driving force: Facing continuously increased literatures in the area, communication scholars need to develop a theory or theories to guide the research. The direction of the research has been moving toward focusing on the boarder and more general effects of negative political ads.

Keywords: ADS, Advertising, Analysis, Citation, Citation Analysis, Communication, Communication Journals, Content Analysis, Development, Driving, Effects, General, Information, Patterns, Research, Review, Reviews, Sources, Theory

Lewison, G. (1996), The frequencies of occurrence of scientific papers with authors of each initial letter and their variation with nationality. Scientometrics, 37 (3), 401-416.

Full Text: 1996\Scientometrics37, 401.pdf

Abstract: This paper introduces ‘alphabet spectra’ which are the 26 frequencies of occurrence of scientific papers in a given sample with at least one author of each initial, A, B,...Z. The sum of these frequencies exceeds unity because of multiple authorships. Formulae are given relating this sum to the mean number of authors per paper in the sample. The method is applied to show the increase in this number over the last 15 years in different fields of science and for different countries. The ‘alphabet spectra’ vary greatly depending on the nationality of the scientists concerned and can be compared to frequency absorption spectra for chemical elements or molecules. The spectra can be used to determine the national composition of a country’s scientific authors and how this has changed with time.

Keywords: Absorption, Chemical, Chemical Elements, Composition, Elements, Occurrence, Paper, Science

? Hemlin, S. and Gustafsson, M. (1996), Research production in the arts and humanities - A questionnaire study of factors influencing research performance. Scientometrics, 37 (3), 417-432.

Full Text: 1996\Scientometrics37, 417.pdf

Abstract: This study explored the main factors influencing the research production in the arts and humanities. A questionnaire was constructed to identify and assess the effects of various factors important for the productivity of the individual researcher as reflected in the number of papers and Ph.D.’s produced. First, respondents were given the opportunity to list in their own words a number of important factors influencing research productivity. Secondly, they evaluated on rating scales the importance of a number of pre-selected factors (e.g. individual characteristics, organisational features, external factors) assumed to be important for research productivity. 50% of a sample of 256 researchers in the humanities responded. Ratings were grouped to produce a number of indices and these were subject to multiple regression analyses. The main results showed that the production of papers was predicted by the number of Ph.D.’s produced and inversely related to the importance of organisational factors. The production of Ph.D.’s was dependent on the year of the Ph.D. and the position of the respondent as well as on the number of papers s/he produced. A number of conclusions were drawn: a) there was support for the academic social position effect also in the humanities, b) organisational factors apparently played a minor role in comparison to individual characteristics in the humanities than in the sciences and, c) the differences in productivity of papers were also related to gender, but not to size, area or language of publications. Implications for further studies were suggested.

Keywords: Academic, Characteristics, Comparison, Effects, Features, Gender, Importance, Language, Multiple Regression, Performance, Position, Production, Productivity, Publications, Questionnaire, Regression, Research, Research Performance, Research Productivity, Role, Scales, Sciences, Size, Social, Support

? van Caulil, G.F., Mombers, C.A.M. and van den Beemt, F.C.H.D. (1996), Quantifying the utilization of research: The difficulties and two models to evaluate the utilization of research results. Scientometrics, 37 (3), 433-444.

Full Text: 1996\Scientometrics37, 433.pdf

Abstract: Although there are several methods for determining the quality of scientific research, there is no satisfactory method known that can measure the utilization of it. Earlier proposed methods measure a particular kind of utilization, but are - in practice - a poor indication for the utilization on the whole, a concept for which a definition is hard to make. These methods do not comply with the construct validity. The main problem in this case is the great diversity of what we mean by use of results of scientific research, resulting in a lack of consensus on the criteria for assessing the utilization. Here, we propose and discuss two methods. To evaluate utilization in a broad sense the four-dimensional model describes the degree of utilization with three, mostly independent, aspects: the involvement of the user, the availability of a transferable research product, and the commercial benefits resulting from the research results. In the other method the utilization of the research results is described first, and subsequently the utilization is quantified by a jury, who group the different projects in five classes, based on a Guttman scale.

Keywords: Availability, Concept, Consensus, Diversity, Group, Methods, Model, Models, Practice, Quality, Research, Research Performance, Research Results, Scale, Utilization, Validity

? Prpic, K. (1996), Scientific fields and eminent scientists’ productivity patterns and factors. Scientometrics, 37 (3), 445-471.

Full Text: 1996\Scientometrics37, 445.pdf

Abstract: A questionnaire study of 385 eminent Croatian scientists has examined the quantity, patterns and factors of their scientific production in four different scientific fields. The findings confirm the thesis that the contextual influences will be even more expressed within this elite group than within the whole research population. Thus the respondents’ scientific productivity much clearly shows the patterns typical for their scientific fields. The initial thesis is also supported by a very differentiated composition and the explanatory power of the productivity predictors in the observed fields. Yet, the scientific and linguistic qualifications, within a narrower predictors’ block, and the involvement in the international scientific activity, in a broader one, were the most important productivity factors in most fields.

Keywords: Activity, Composition, Developing-Countries, Group, Impact, Index, Inequality, International Collaboration, Performance, Population, Predictors, Production, Productivity, Quantity, Questionnaire, Research, Science, Scientific Production, Scientific Productivity

? Bourke, P. and Butler, L. (1996), Publication types, citation rates and evaluation. Scientometrics, 37 (3), 473-494.

Full Text: 1996\Scientometrics38, 473.pdf

Abstract: In order to resolve questions frequently raised in the context of research evaluation about the citation rates of journal publications in relation to other types of publications, the total research output of substantial institutions or systems has to be brought under bibliographic control. That precondition has rarely been met: there are few published studies of the total range of publications of major research institutions, including books, book chapters, technical reports and published conference proceedings. The Research Evaluation and Policy Project (REPP) at the Australian National University (ANU) has established a database covering all the publications from the Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS), a full-time research institution at the ANU, and has examined in detail citations in the journal literature accruing to all types of publications. The database contains a significant number of publications, nearly 30 000 items, and covers the sciences and the social sciences and humanities. This data enables us to examine whether the citation record of research publications appearing in journals indexed by the Institute for Scientific information (ISI) is a useable surrogate for the citation record within ISI journals of all model of publication. We contend that, if certain preconditions am met, the choice of citation rate is not critical.

Keywords: Citation, Citations, Control, Evaluation, Institute For Scientific Information, Institutions, ISI, Journal, Model, Order, Output, Publication, Publications, Range, Research, Research Evaluation, Sciences, Social, Social Sciences

? Balaban, A.T. (1996), How should citations to articles in high- and low-impact journals be evaluated, or what is a citation worth? Scientometrics, 37 (3), 495-498.

Full Text: 1996\Scientometrics37, 495.pdf

Abstract: After a brief discussion on the normalization factors allowing the quantitative comparison between various disciplines, a formula is proposed for taking into account the value of citations to papers published in journals with different impact factors.

Keywords: Brief, Citation, Citations, Comparison, Impact, Impact Factors

? Wouters, P. and Leydesdorff, L. (1997), Proceedings of the Erasmus Workshop on Quantitative Approaches to Science & Technology Studies - Amsterdam, 21-24 May 1996 - Introduction. Scientometrics, 38 (1), 3-5.

Full Text: 1997\Scientometrics38, 3.pdf

? Rip, A. (1997), Qualitative conditions of scientometrics: The new challenges. Scientometrics, 38 (1), 7-26.

Full Text: 1997\Scientometrics38, 7.pdf

Abstract: While scientometrics is now an established field, there are challenges. A closer look at how scientometricians aggregate building blocks into artfully made products, and point-represent these (e.g. as the map of field X) allows one to overcome the dependence on judgements of scientists for validation, and replace or complement these with intrinsic validation, based on quality checks of the several steps. Such quality checks require qualitative analysis of the domains being studied. Qualitative analysis is also necessary when noninstitutionalized domains and/or domains which do not emphasize texts are to be studied. A further challenge is to reflect on the effects of scientometrics on the development of science, indicators could lead to ‘induced’ aggregation. The availability of scientometric tools and insights might allow scientists and science to become more reflexive.

Keywords: Aggregate, Aggregation, Analysis, Availability, Bibliometric Indicators, British Science, Building, Decline, Dependence, Development, Effects, Indicators, Lead, Made, Products, Qualitative, Quality, Science, Scientometrics, Tools, Validation

? Luukkonen, T. (1997), Why has Latour’s theory of citations been ignored by the bibliometric community? Discussion of sociological interpretations of citation analysis. Scientometrics, 38 (1), 27-37.

Full Text: 1997\Scientometrics38, 27.pdf

Abstract: The paper discusses the often lamented lack of a theory of citations, and the lack of a sociological theory in particular. It draws attention to one proposed theory and discusses the potential reasons why it has not been generally accepted as the theory of citations, despite its merits in explaining many phenomena in the citation behaviour of scientists. This theory has been expounded by Latour and presented, in particular, in his book entitled Science in Action.

Keywords: Analysis, Attention, Bibliometric, Citation, Citation Analysis, Citations, Community, Paper, Theory

? Wouters, P. (1997), Citation cycles and peer review cycles. Scientometrics, 38 (1), 39-55.

Full Text: 1997\Scientometrics38, 39.pdf

Abstract: Hardly anyone will dispute that the creation of the Science Citation Index has made an important difference to science. It is less clear, however, in what way the science system has been influenced. This article proposes a qualitative model to better understand the mutual interactions involved. Science is pictured as an information processing cycle. Its quality is maintained in the “peer review cycle”. The main upshot of the SCI has been the creation of a second-order cycle on top of the primary knowledge production cycle. This is the citation cycle. The specialty of scientometrics has a key role in this citation cycle. The model enables a more profound understanding of the various feed back processes between the two cycles. Moreover, it may give insight in the development of hybrid and heterogenous scientific specialties like scientometrics.

Keywords: Citation, Creation, Development, Feed, Hybrid, Indicators, Information, Interactions, Key, Knowledge, Made, Model, Peer Review, Processing, Production, Qualitative, Quality, Review, Role, SCI, Science, Science Citation Index, Scientometrics, Second Order, Specialties

? Barre, R. (1997), The European perspective on S&T indicators. Scientometrics, 38 (1), 57-70.

Full Text: 1997\Scientometrics38, 57.pdf

Abstract: The S&T indicators activity is first described as a complex process involving a variety of functions, capabilities and institutions, this provides a framework to assess the S&T indicators activity in a country or, more generally, in a research system. Then, the main features of the S&T indicators scene in Europe are presented: regarding the countries, the diversity of the institutional settings and the growing potentials is stressed, among countries, at European level, the important and original role of the European Commission in the dynamics of the S&T indicators activites in Europe is presented, finally, it is argued that the European scene consists of a diversity of research groups which are in competition and collaboration, sharing a number of intellectual concerns and orientations. The perspectives for S&T indicators activity in the EU countries are defined by the greater quantity of source data, by the conceptual advances regarding the S&T system and by the new needs of the decision-makers. In conclusion, some alternative scenarios are suggested.

Keywords: Activity, Collaboration, Competition, Complex, Diversity, Dynamics, EU, Europe, European Commission, Features, Groups, Indicators, Institutions, Process, Quantity, Research, Role, Scenarios, Source

Cunningham, P. (1997), The evaluation of European programmes and the future of scientometrics. Scientometrics, 38 (1), 71-85.

Full Text: 1997\Scientometrics38, 71.pdf

Abstract: This paper presents the results of an examination of a selection of published European evaluations. The incidence of quantitative and scientometric approaches has been reviewed and an assessment made of their contributory role in each evaluation. The various approaches have been broadly categorised according to the type of data they draw upon, and by the issues they attempt to address. The author analyses such approaches with regard to the degree of success in meeting the objectives of the evaluation. In the light of this some likely future trends are suggested.

Keywords: Assessment, Evaluation, Examination, Incidence, Light, Made, Paper, Role, Scientometrics, Selection, Trends

? VanderMeulen, B.J.R. (1997), The use of S&T indicators in science policy: Dutch experiences and theoretical perspectives from policy analysis. Scientometrics,