Personal Research Database

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics41, 155.pdf

Abstract: Publications resulting from international cooperation and included in seven SCI annual files 1987-1989 and 1992-1995 were analyzed. It was observed that after the political changes of the turn of 1980s considerable increase in the number of publications was accompanied by the geographic development of co-authorship. Information coming from SCI 1992-1995, elaborated, completed and encoded were entered into an own database designed for analytical purposes. During these four years above 9600 papers were published in over 1600 prestige journals, of which almost 2200 publications resulted from multilateral cooperation. Altogether the foreign co-authors came from 102 countries, but over 80% of international papers were published in cooperation with the partners from 11 countries. The domestic participants came from over 200 research and educational organizations. It was found that the biggest share of papers within this multidisciplinary file represented physics (40%), chemistry (21%), and biomedical research (11%).

Keywords: Biomedical Research, Collaboration, Development, Multidisciplinary, Organizations, Publications, Research, SCI

Van Hooydonk, G. and Milis-Proost, G. (1998), Measuring impact by a full option method and the notion of bibliometric spectra. Scientometrics, 41 (1-2), 169-183.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics41, 169.pdf

Abstract: A full option method for determining impact takes into account citations to all cited publications, instead of limiting the analysis to ISI-publications only, as usually done in the standard method. The method was tested for the 258 early Ghent professors, teaching in 6 different faculties. The impact of monographs is, in general, much larger than the impact of articles (whether of ISI-type or not). This result remains valid for all six faculties separately Limiting the bibliometric visibility to ISI-publications reduces the number of citations to only 16%. Bibliometric spectra are presented, in which citations, cited publications and their impact are shown in function of the year of publication. The number of cited publications is always important to expose the influence of activity (production) upon bibliometric scores. For the faculty of Arts, the citations to early professors are compared with those obtained for the present-day generation: the bibliometric spectrum for the former group is rather discontinuous (showing a large erosion in the number of citations by year), whereas that of the latter is continuous. The Ghent citation data are also compared with those given internationally in the same period.

Keywords: Activity, Analysis, Bibliometric, Citation, Citations, Erosion, Faculty, Function, General, Group, Impact, Production, Publication, Publications, Standard, Teaching, Visibility

Vinkler, P. (1998), General performance indexes calculated for research institutes of the Hungarian academy of sciences based on scientometric indicators. Scientometrics, 41 (1-2), 185-200.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics41, 185.pdf

Abstract: Activities of research institutes of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences were assessed multi-dimensionally. Taking into account goals and tasks of the institutes, weighted scientometric indicators were suggested. The weights of the individual indexes were distributed among the institutes by the values of their indicators. The sum of the individual weighted scores representing special aspects of the total activity yields a General Performance Index (GPI) which, together with a thorough peer review, may be used for distributing grants.

Keywords: Activity, Basic Research, Indicators, Peer Review, Performance, Research, Review, Weights

Wagner-Döbler, R. (1998), Scientometric evidence for the existence of long economic growth cycles in Europe 1500-1900. Scientometrics, 41 (1-2), 201-208.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics41, 201.pdf

Abstract: In times of economic stagnation, the debate about ‘long waves’ of economic growth typically refreshes. This has also been the case in the period of the world-wide economic stagnation since 1970. But the results concerning the existence of long-term cycles of economic activity are still controversial. In this contribution, the ‘ups and downs in the pulse of science and technology’ (Price) are related to economic growth cycles. It turns out that Schumpeter’s contention of an inverse relationship between the level of scientific and technological activity on the one side and economic growth on the other side is correct for 1500 to 1900. Thereby also an indirect proof is furnished for the existence of long economic growth cycles in the last centuries.

Keywords: Activity, Economic, Europe, Growth, Long-Term, Pulse, Science, Technological Activity

? Wilson, C.S. (1998), Defining subject collections for informetric analyses: The effect of varying the subject aboutness level. Scientometrics, 41 (1-2), 209-223.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics41, 209.pdf

Abstract: Subject literature collections are typically formed by judgements which are inexplicit and imprecise. This seems to compromise the worth of precise measurements made of their properties. In this paper an examination is made of how several commonly-measured properties of subject literatures vary as an important factor in the compilation of subject collections is varied. The factor is the amount which a document must ‘say’ about a subject for it to be included in such a collection. This document property has been expressed in formal terms and given a simple measure for the one subject examined, the research topic of Bradford’s Law of Scattering. It is found that lowering the level of subject aboutness required for admission to a collection produces a large increase in the size of the collection obtained, and an appreciable change in some size-related properties. For these properties, the initial concern is warranted. However, other parameters are found to be invariant to such changes.

Keywords: Bradford Distribution, Examination, Made, Measurements, Paper, Parameters, Properties, Research, Size

? Wouters, P. (1998), The signs of science. Scientometrics, 41 (1-2), 225-241.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics41, 225.pdf

Abstract: Since the Science Citation Index emerged within the system of scientific communication in 1964, an intense controversy about its character has been raging: in what sense can citation analysis be trusted? This debate can be characterized as the confrontation of different perspectives on science. In this paper the citation representation of science is discussed: the way the citation creates a new reality of as well as in the world of science, the main features of this reality, and some implications for science and science policy.

Keywords: Analysis, Citation, Citation Analysis, Citations, Communication, Features, Paper, Policy, Representation, Science, Science Citation Index, Science Policy, Science-Policy, Scientific Communication

? Yitzhaki, M. (1998), The ‘language preference’ in sociology: Measures of ‘language self-citation’, ‘relative own-language preference indicator’, and ‘mutual use of languages’. Scientometrics, 41 (1-2), 243-254.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics41, 243.pdf

Abstract: Although between one-third to one-half of world social sciences research literature is published in languages other than English, studies show very scant use of it by American and English scholars. Almost all studies, however, were conducted from the Anglo-Saxon perspective, limiting the scope of the study to English-published sources or English-speaking scientists and research workers. The present study aimed at assessing the scope of the language preference in a social sciences field, not only among American and British scholars, but among German and French ones as well, using the technique of citation analysis. Samples including mostly 50-60 original research articles were drawn from the 1985-1994 volumes of nine leading sociology journals published in the US, UK, Germany and France and the references appended to each were scrutinized in order to determine the frequency distribution of the languages cited in each periodical. Findings clearly showed a strong preference of writers to cite material in their own language. However, the extent of this bias differed from journal to journal. The American and British writers rank first, with close to 99% of their references being in English. German scholars rank next, preferring German sources in 75% of the cases, and French scholars quote French sources in only 66% of their references. In order to calculate the new refined measure of ‘relative own-language preference’ (ROLP) indicator, the proportions of ‘language self-citation’ were related to the estimated proportions of these languages in the existing body of sociology research. This measure reveals that German sociologists have the strongest bias towards their mother-tongue, their ratio of references in German exceeding almost 12 to 28 times the expected figure according to the German language share in sociology research. Next come French sociologists (8 to 14 times) while American and British ones display the lowest own-language bias, only slightly higher than expected. Further analysis of the foreign languages preference of each group, according to a ‘mutual-use’ matrix, shows a relative low use of German and French sources by British-American sociologists.

Keywords: Analysis, Bias, Citation, Citation Analysis, Distribution, France, Germany, Group, Indicator, Journal, Language, Languages, Low, Order, Preference, Rank, Research, Research Articles, Sciences, Social, Social Sciences, Sources, UK, US

Zitt, M. and Bassecoulard, E. (1998), Internationalization of scientific journals: A measurement based on publication and citation scope. Scientometrics, 41 (1-2), 255-271.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics41, 255.pdf

Abstract: Although impact factor and related measurements are the best-known features of scientific journals, other characteristics are of particular interest. The way a journal reflects the internationalized nature of science may be determined by many methods, one of which is based on the distribution of authoring and citing countries. This can be systematically measured either by a comparison of these distributions with averages profiles of a discipline or specialty, or by concentration indexes on the other. This paper focuses on the first approach. As the average profile of science drifts with the level of visibility, stratification by impact level is discussed. In this study, experimental internationalization indexes were calculated on the SCI for journals belonging to Earth&Space and Applied Biology. Convergence of measurements (types of indexes, type of normalization, publication vs citation scope) is adressed. Internationalization indexes may have a variety of applications, including characterization of the scientific publishing market and sampling of the SCI for science indicators.

Keywords: Applications, Averages, Characteristics, Characterization, Citation, Comparison, Concentration, Distribution, Distributions, Drifts, Experimental, Features, Impact, Impact Factor, Indicators, Journal, Measurement, Measurements, Methods, Paper, Profile, Profiles, Publication, Publishing, Sampling, SCI, Science, Set, Stratification, Visibility

Okubo, Y., Dore, J.C., Ojasoo, T. and Miquel, J.F. (1998), A multivariate analysis of publication trends in the 1980s with special reference to South-East Asia. Scientometrics, 41 (3), 273-289.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics41, 273.pdf

Abstract: This study is a follow-up to a published Correspondence Factor Analysis (CFA) of a dataset of over 6 million bibliometric entries. In the previous paper, CFA was used to show how the 48 most prolific countries stand in relation to each with regard to their publication interests in 17 specific disciplinary areas and one multidisciplinary field over the period 1981-1992. In this paper, we illustrate how the publication profiles of these 48 countries evolved over time during this period. We have (i) shown how analysis of the dataset highlights cutting edge versus ancient disciplines, (II) identified the countries whose publication patterns underwent the most marked changes (e.g. the Asian dragons who chose to focus on engineering, materials sciences, computer sciences and molecular biology), and (iii) revealed the widespread attraction exerted by the publication pattern of the USA. There is, without doubt, an overall shift toward an American-style pattern that may be a true reflection of research interests worldwide but that may also be explained by the hegemony of those who hold the reins of international publication.

Keywords: 48 Countries, Analysis, Asia, Asian, Bibliometric, Biology, Collaboration, Cutting, Engineering, Follow up, Follow-up, Materials, Molecular Biology, Multidisciplinary, Multivariate, Multivariate Analysis, Paper, Patterns, Period 1981-1992, Profiles, Publication, Reference, Research, Science, Sciences, Southeast, Southeast Asia, Trends, Typology, USA

? O’Neill, G.P. (1998), Authorship patterns in theory based versus research based journals. Scientometrics, 41 (3), 291-298.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics41, 291.pdf

Abstract: This article examines authorship pattern in two theory based journals, one American and one Canadian. Data were collected on the number of single, double, and multiple authors from 1955 to 1994 in Educational Theory and from 1970 to 1994 in the Journal of Educational Thought. The years were, in turn, divided into eight and five five-year intervals respectively. Frequencies and percentages were generated for each interval and chi squares were computed between intervals and overall. In addition, author/article ratios were calculated for each year for Educational Theory. Results revealed that the majority of authorships were single in both journals regardless of the date of publication. These findings further challenge de Solla Price’s predictions that co-and multiple authorships would eventually outnumber single authorships. The failure to distinguish between journal type and to allow for discrepancies within disciplines raises new concerns about conclusions drawn, to date, in the literature.

Keywords: Authorship, Clinical Research, Journal, Multiple Authorship, Predictions, Publication, Research, Theory, Trend

Fonseca, L., Velloso, S., Wofchuk, S. and de Meis, L. (1998), The relationship between advisors and students. Scientometrics, 41 (3), 299-312.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics41, 299.pdf

Abstract: Considering the influence of graduation courses on the scientific productivity in Brazil, fifty productive Brazilian scientists working in life sciences were interviewed about their relationship with their advisors and their own experience with their students. Admired by freedom and intellectual qualities, by their love and dedication for science, advisors seem to have had a deep influence on their students. This bond is not free from either an idealized frame or from some complaints and conflicts. Interviewed scientists see in themselves lesser qualities and faults but the same respect for freedom. Some students are thought to be specially important to the interviewed’s productivity. Eldest and most productive scientists seem to be intellectually more impressed by their advisors than the other groups. The emotional and sometimes strong and idealized bond between advisor and students lead us to believe that the stated frequencies of conflicts might be underestimated.

Keywords: Brazil, Emotional, Graduation, Groups, Lead, Life, Productivity, Science, Sciences, Scientific Productivity, Students

Leta, J., Lannes, D. and de Meis, L. (1998), Human resources and scientific productivity in Brazil. Scientometrics, 41 (3), 313-324.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics41, 313.pdf

Abstract: The number of Brazilian scientific publications increased from 0.29% to 0.56% of the worldwide total during the 1981-1993 period. There was a decrease of the funds allocated to most scientific activities, except for that allocated for training of new scientists. The numbers of research fellowships and scientific publications increased at the same ratio during the period. The pattern of scientific publications and the number of fellowship granted along the years in the different fields of research were analyzed. The data presented indicate that even in a period of economic crisis, a selective investment of funds in human resources may lead to an increase of the scientific productivity of a country in all science fields.

Keywords: Brazil, Crisis, Economic, Fellowship, Human, Latin-America, Lead, Productivity, Publications, Research, Science, Scientific Productivity, Scientific Publications, Selective, Training

? So, C.Y.K. (1998), Citation ranking versus expert judgment in evaluating communication scholars: Effects of research specialty size and individual prominence. Scientometrics, 41 (3), 325-333.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics41, 325.pdf

Abstract: Numerous attempts have been made to validate the use of citation as an evaluation method by comparing it with peer review. Unlike past studies using journals, research articles or universities as the subject matter, the present study extends the comparison to the ranking of individual scholars. Results show that citation ranking and expert judgment of communication scholars are highly correlated. The citation method and the expert judgment method are found to work batter in smaller research areas and yield more valid evaluation results for more prominent scholars.

Keywords: Citation, Communication, Comparison, Evaluation, Made, Matter, Peer, Peer Review, Ranking, Research, Research Articles, Research Performance, Review, Size, Universities, Validate, Yield

Thomas, P.R. and Watkins, D.S. (1998), Institutional research rankings via bibliometric analysis and direct peer review: A comparative case study with policy implications. Scientometrics, 41 (3), 335-355.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics41, 335.pdf

Abstract: Recent years have seen enormously increased interest, in the comparative evaluation of research quality in the UK, with considerable resources devoted to ranking the output of academic institutions relative to one another at the sub-discipline level, and the disposition of even greater resources dependent on the outcome of this process. The preferred methodology has been that of traditional peer review, with expert groups of academics tasked to assess the relative worth of all research activity in ‘their’ field. Extension to institutional evaluation of a recently refined technique of journal ranking (Discipline Contribution Scoring) holds out the possibility of ‘automatic’ evaluation within a time-frame considerably less than would be required using methods based directly on citation counts within the corpus of academic work under review. This paper tests the feasibility of the technique in the sub-field of Business and management Studies Research, producing rankings which are highly correlated with those generated by the much more complex and expensive direct peer review approach. More generally, the analysis also gives a rare opportunity directly to compare the equivalence of peer review and bibliometric analysis over a whole sub-field of academic activity in a non-experimental setting.

Keywords: Academic, Activity, Analysis, Bibliometric, Bibliometric Analysis, Case Study, Citation, Complex, Departments, Determinants, Evaluation, Groups, Institutions, Journal, Journals, Management, Methodology, Methods, Outcome, Output, Paper, Peer Review, Policy, Policy Implications, Process, Psychology, Publication, Quality, Ranking, Rankings, Research, Research Performance, Research Quality, Review, Sciences, Scores, Tests, UK

? Jain, A., Garg, K.C., Sharma, P. and Kumar, S. (1998), Impact of SERC’s funding on research in chemical sciences. Scientometrics, 41 (3), 357-370.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics41, 357.pdf

Abstract: The paper assesses impact of Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC) funding in chemical sciences during 1976-1989 using scientometric techniques. Other indicators like awards won, fellowship to prestigious academies, membership to editorial boards received by the project investigators, Ph.D. degrees awarded, collaborations established and new courses introduced due to SERC funding have also been analyzed. The study indicates that activity index of research out put in various frontier areas of chemical sciences have gone up despite a decrease in Indian activity index in these areas. The growth pattern of papers for ‘Organometallic and Organometalloidal Compounds’ are similar for India and world. Contribution of SERC’s project investigators in high impact factor (greater than or equal to 2) journals and the citations received by the papers published by them are higher than Indian contributions in chemical sciences. The SERC funding has resulted in a three fold increase in the number of Ph.D, degrees awarded in chemical sciences and SERC project investigators have won many prestigious awards, fellowship to academies and membership of the editorial board of the journals. The SERC funded research has also resulted in new courses at various universities.

Keywords: Activity, Chemical, Citations, Fellowship, Funding, Growth, Impact, Impact Factor, Index, India, Indicators, Model, Paper, Research, Sciences, Techniques, Universities

Schwarz, A.W., Schwarz, S. and Tijssen, R.J.W. (1998), Research and research impact of a technical university: A bibliometric study. Scientometrics, 41 (3), 371-388.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics41, 371.pdf

Abstract: The research output of the Danish Technical University (DTU) has been studied as an aspect of the organization’s research policy and visibility in its international context. papers published in the three-year period (1992-94) were grouped according to 20 clusters of research areas. Using citation analysis techniques, the dynamics of citation frequencies, and a number of other features of the research system, like self-citation, research collaborations, relative impact on the international literature, etc., could be studied. The methods can be used to analyze institutional and national research efforts and to monitor effects of changing policies.

Keywords: Analysis, Bibliometric, Bibliometric Study, Citation, Citation Analysis, Dynamics, Indicators, International, Literature, Methods, Policy, Research, Research Performance, Research Policy, Self-Citation, Techniques, University

? Mccain, K.W. (1998), Neural networks research in context: A longitudinal journal cocitation analysis of an emerging interdisciplinary field. Scientometrics, 41 (3), 389-410.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics41, 389.pdf

Abstract: A cocitation analysis for thirty-six journals and other publications in neural networks research and related disciplines was conducted over three consecutive time periods spanning the years 1990 - early 1997. Cluster analysis and MDS maps identified groupings representing foundation research areas (physics/optics, computer engineering, neuroscience, expert systems gi cognition, and perception) along with neural networks and mathematical modeling of neural systems. Principal components analysis demonstrated a similar structure, with several journals and books loading on a majority of the factors. An INDSCAL analysis showed an increasing separation between natural sciences/psychology and engineering/neural networks research from the first time period to the third.

Keywords: Analysis, Cocitation, Cognition, Engineering, Expert Systems, Interdisciplinary, Journal, Loading, Longitudinal, Mathematical Modeling, Modeling, Natural, Neural Networks, Neuroscience, Perception, Publications, Research, Separation, Specialties, Structure

? Marton, J., Hulesch, H. and Zallar, I. (1998), Intensity breeds effectivity. Scientometrics,