Personal Research Database

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics42, 299.pdf

Abstract: Data were compiled and linearly correlated on the growth in the gross domestic product (GDP) with the academic chemical engineering literature over a recent 26-year period for five different English-speaking countries, namely, the United States, Canada, Great Britain, India and Australia. The publication figures were also scaled to the total number of chemical engineering schools in the country, furthermore, all of these data were normalized from zero to unity, using the figures far the most recent year (1996) as the denominators, and then correlated against each other in linear fashion. Resulting confidence levels were in excess of 99% for each of the individual five countries, as well as for the entire set of normalized data for all of the countries.

Keywords: Academic, Australia, Britain, Canada, Chemical, Confidence, Engineering, GDP, Great Britain, Growth, India, Journals, Levels, Linear, Publication, Recent, Schools, United States

Godin, B. (1998), Measuring knowledge flows between countries: The use of scientific meeting data. Scientometrics, 42 (3), 313-323.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics42, 313.pdf

Abstract: The present paper tries to compare international flows of knowledge as measured in meetings with flows as measured with papers in order to see what meetings can add to bibliometric studies. It is shown that most of known bibliometric results are confirmed with meetings, although more skewly: the concentration of proceedings, the dominance and attraction of the United States, and the decline of United Kingdom. However, important limitations are associated with ISTP, namely the low rate of authors’ addresses, a limitation which reduces the interest of ISTP for bibliometric studies.

Keywords: Bibliometric, Bibliometric Studies, Biotechnology, Communication, Concentration, Flows, Knowledge, Limitations, Low, Order, Paper, Participation, United Kingdom, United States

Gupta, B.M., Kumar, S. and Rousseau, R. (1998), Applicability of selected probability distributions to the number of authors per article in theoretical population genetics. Scientometrics, 42 (3), 325-334.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics42, 325.pdf

Abstract: Recently scientists have investigated what statistical distributions can be used to describe the distribution of the number of authors per article. Ajiferuke has undertaken the most comprehensive study of this problem. He has found that by and large the Inverse Gaussian-Poisson distribution could describe most properly the observed authorship distributions. However, it is well known that this distribution is rather intricate, so Rousseau tried to fit some simple one-parameter distributions to the number of authors of LIS articles. He has found that the geometric and the truncated Poisson distribution adequately describe these authorship data sets. The main purpose of the present paper is to continue these investigations and to analyse and test the viability of simple statistical distributions. As to (sub)felds where the single author dominates the results of Rousseau were corroborated: the truncated Poisson and the geometric distribution give often adequate fits to describe the number of authors. The Lotka distribution should be rejected. The truncated binomial distribution and the truncated negative binomial were investigated as well. However, it is not clear whether they are acceptable candidates.

Keywords: Authorship, Distribution, Distributions, Genetics, Investigations, Lotka Law, Paper, Population, Probability, Test, Viability

Gupta, B.M. (1998), Growth and obsolescence of literature in theoretical population genetics. Scientometrics, 42 (3), 335-347.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics42, 335.pdf

Abstract: Studies the relation between growth rates and obsolescence rates and half-life of theoretical population genetics literature. Explores the application of lognormal distribution in age distribution of citations over a period of time.

Keywords: Access, Age, Aging, Attention, Discard, Genetics, Information, Information Retrieval, Informetrics, Knowledge, Older, Population, Probability, Reviews, Storage, Time, Utility, Validity

? Gupta, B.M. and Karisiddappa, C.R. (1998), Collaboration in theoretical population genetics speciality. Scientometrics, 42 (3), 349-376.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics42, 349.pdf

Abstract: Analyses the growth of funded and collaborative research publications and authors as reflected in selected theoretical population genetics literature from 1956-60 to 1976-80. Indicates that the number of funded and collaborated publications has not proportionally increased along with the growth of total research publications and authors with time, but however, there is a strong correlation between the two. Indicates the extent of multi-authored research publications in different countries, and studies the growth of multi-authored publications from 1956-60 to 1976-80. Studies the impact of funding and collaboration on the productivity of authors over a period of time. Concludes that the authors who are more productive are generally found to be more collaborative and funded. The average productivity per author is observed to be larger in funded and collaborated authors subset and smaller in non-funded and non-collaborated authors subset, than the average productivity per author in the total authors subset in all the five block years studied. There is a systematic increase with time in the average productivity per author in the funded and collaborated authors subset. Studies the nature and type of collaborated research from 1956-60 to 1976-80, and the role of funding. Highlights the research priorities of few important countries in collaborative research. Indicates the collaboration linkages among various countries in transnational collaborative research. Concludes that with time, the focus of research is slowly shifting from internal collaboration to domestic and international collaboration, supported by increasing funding from government agencies in theoretical population genetics research.

Keywords: Collaboration, Correlation, Funding, Genetics, Growth, Impact, International Collaboration, Output, Population, Productivity, Publications, Research, Role

? Rivas, A.L., Deshler, J.D., Quimby, F.W., Mohammed, H.O., Wilson, D.J., Gonzalez, R.N., Lein, D.H. and Bruso, P. (1998), Interdisciplinary question generation: Synthesis and validity analysis of the 1993-1997 bovine mastitis-related literature. Scientometrics, 42 (3), 377-403.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics42, 377.pdf

Abstract: Interdisciplinary synthesis and validity analysis (ISVA), a structured learning approach which integrates teaming and communication theories, mete-analytic evaluation methods, and literature management-related technologies was applied in the context of the 1993-1997 bovine mastitis research literature. This study investigated whether ISVA could: 1) facilitate the analysis and synthesis of interdisciplinary knowledge claims, and a)generate projects or research questions. The bovine mastitis-related literature was conceptualized as composed of microbiological, immunological, and epidemiological dimensions. Keywords involving these dimensions were searched in the Medline and Agricola databases. A final list of 148 articles were retrieved, analyzed, synthesized into fifteen information sub-sets, and evaluated for construct, internal, external and statistical validity through an interdisciplinary iterative dialogical process. Validity threats were re-phrased as new research or educational projects.

Keywords: Analysis, Bovine, Communication, Databases, Decision-Support System, Endotoxin-Induced Mastitis, Evaluation, Flow Cytometric Analysis, Health-Monitoring-System, Information, Interdisciplinary, Knowledge, Lactating Dairy-Cows, Learning, Medline, Methods, Necrosis-Factor-Alpha, Online Electrical-Conductivity, Periparturient Holstein Cattle, Process, Research, Somatic-Cell Count, Staphylococcus-Aureus Mastitis, Synthesis, Technologies, Validity

? bd el Kader, M., Ojasoo, T., Miquel, J.F., Okubo, Y. and Dore, J.C. (1998), Hierarchical author networks: An analysis of European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) publications. Scientometrics, 42 (3), 405-421.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics42, 405.pdf

Abstract: Go-authorship analyses are both difficult to perform and interpret. We have devised a new way of calculating and representing hierarchical author networks that depict relationships among authors in a more exhaustive and less equivocal manner than most available automatic analyses. Any structure, however complex, can be broken down into independent subclusters of authors that can be represented as individual interconnected networks. We illustrate our approach by analysing the authors of publications giving the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) as an affiliation in 1994 (from the ISI 1994 CD-ROM). The networks can be interpreted by referring to the official EMBL staff list (Annual Report 1993) and, in terms of research topics, by consulting the article titles and abstracts. In this respect, correspondence analyses of the author-publication matrices - that are the counterparts of the author-author matrices - prove extremely useful in structuring the thematic information. In fact, both methods - the hierarchical author networks and the correspondence analysis biplots - mutually enrich each other and provide a global picture of the inherent structure and interests of the EMBL as given by their 1994 publications.

Keywords: 48 Countries, Analysis, Cd-Rom, Collaboration, Complex, Contributors, Global, Information, ISI, Methods, Patterns, Period 1981-1992, Publications, Research, Science, Specialties, Structure, Typology

? Van Raan, A.F.J. (1998), The influence of international collaboration on the impact of research results - Some simple mathematical considerations concerning the role of self-citations. Scientometrics, 42 (3), 423-428.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics42, 423.pdf

Abstract: There is an ongoing discussion on the influence of international collaboration on impact as measured by citation-based indicators. Collaboration generally involves more authors than ‘no collaboration’ work and it is obvious that the phenomenon of self-citation will be stronger (there are more authors to cite themselves). Thus it can be seen as an important amplifier’ of measured impact. Although this effect is certainly possible and already demonstrated recently, it should not be considered as the only or even major explanation of higher impact in the comparison between ‘no collaboration’ and international collaboration. Using data of an extensive bibliometric study of astronomical research in the Netherlands, we prove that higher rates of self-citation in international collaboration do not play any significant role as ‘impact amplifier’. The central point is that proper impact measurement must involve corrections for self-citations.

Keywords: Bibliometric, Bibliometric Study, Collaboration, Comparison, Impact, Indicators, International Collaboration, Measurement, Research, Research Results, Role

? LeClerc, M. (1998), Science and technology - The Japanese marriage. Scientometrics, 42 (3), 429-434.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics42, 429.pdf

? Braun, T. (1998), Untitled. Scientometrics, 43 (1), 3.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics43, 3.pdf

Leydesdorff, L. (1998), Theories of citation? Scientometrics, 43 (1), 5-25.

Leydesdorff, L. (1998), Theories of citation? Scientometrics, 43 (1), 5-25.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics43, 5.pdf

Abstract: Citations support the communication of specialist knowledge by allowing authors and readers to make specific selections in several contexts at the same time. In the interactions between the social network of (first-order) authors and the network of their reflexive (that is, second-order) communications, a sub-textual code of communication with a distributed character has emerged. The recursive operation of this dual-layered network induces the perception of a cognitive dimension in scientific communication. Citation analysis reflects on citation practices. Reference lists are aggregated in scientometric analysis using one (or sometimes two) of the available contexts to reduce the complexity: geometrical representations (‘mappings’) of dynamic operations are reflected in corresponding theories of citation. For example, a sociological interpretation of citations can be distinguished from an information-theoretical one. The specific contexts represented in the modern citation can be deconstructed from the perspective of the cultural evolution of scientific communication.

Keywords: Analysis, Citation, Citations, Communication, Dynamic, Evolution, Indicators, Interactions, Knowledge, Model, Operation, Perception, Science, Scientific Communication, Scientometrics, Second Order, Social, Social Network, Support

Kostoff, R.N. (1998), The use and misuse of citation analysis in research evaluation: Comments on theories of citation? Scientometrics, 43 (1), 27-43.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics43, 27.pdf

Abstract: The present paper addresses some of the many possible uses of citations, including bookmark, intellectual heritage, impact tracker, and self-serving purposes. The main focus is on the applicability of citation analysis as an impact or quality measure. If a paper’s bibliography is viewed as consisting of a directed (research impact or quality) component related to intellectual heritage and random components related to specific self-interest topics, then for large numbers of citations from many different citing papers, the most significant intellectual heritage (research impact or quality) citations will aggregate and the random author-specific self-serving citations will be scattered and not accumulate. However, there are at least two limitations to this model of citation analysis for stand-alone use as a measure of research impact or quality. First, the reference to intellectual heritage could be positive or negative. Second, there could be systemic biases which affect the aggregate results, and one of these, the ‘Pied Piper Effect’, is described in detail. Finally, the results of a short citation study comparing Russian and American papers in different technical fields are presented. The questions raised in interpreting this data highlight a few of the difficulties in attempting to interpret citation results without supplementary information. Leydesdorff (Leydesdorff, 1998) addresses the history of citations and citation analysis, and the transformation of a reference mechanism into a purportedly quantitative measure of research impact/quality. The present paper examines different facets of citations and citation analysis, and discusses the validity of citation analysis as a useful measure of research impact/quality.

Keywords: Affect, Aggregate, Analysis, Citation, Citation Analysis, Citations, Evaluation, History, Impact, Information, Limitations, Mechanism, Misuse, Model, Paper, Quality, Reference, Research, Research Evaluation, Transformation, Validity

? Cronin, B. (1998), Metatheorizing citation - Comments on theories of citation? Scientometrics, 43 (1), 45-55.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics43, 45.pdf

Abstract: This paper reviews a variety of perspectives on citation. It argues that citations have multiple articulations in that they inform our understanding of the socio-cultural, cognitive, and textual aspects of scientific communication. Two metatheoretical frameworks are proposed as a means of negotiating the interpretative differences which characterize the various discourse communities concerned with citation theory and practice.

Keywords: Citation, Citations, Communication, Communities, Information-Science, Paper, Practice, Reviews, Scientific Communication, Theory

? Egghe, L. (1998), Mathematical theories of citation - Comments on theories of citation? Scientometrics, 43 (1), 57-62.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics43, 57.pdf

Abstract: The paper focusses on possible mathematical theories of citation and on the intrinsic problems related to it. It sheds light on aspects of mathematical complexity as e.g. encountered in fractal theory and Mandelbrot’s law. There is also a discussion on dynamical aspects of citation theory as reflected in evolutions of journal rankings, centres of gravity or of the set of source journals. Some comments are given in this connection on growth and obsolescence.

Keywords: Citation, Fractal Theory, Gravity, Growth, Impact, Journal, Journals, Law, Light, Obsolescence, Paper, Rankings, Set, Source, Theory

Rousseau, R. (1998), Citation analysis as a theory of friction or polluted air? Comments on theories of citation? Scientometrics, 43 (1), 63-67.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics43, 63.pdf

Abstract: It is argued that Leydesdorff’s theory of citations mixes the ideal or pure case with complicating factors. Ideally, citations are used as shorthand and for ethical reasons. The social network between scientists should be seen as a second-order correction on the basic model or, sometimes, even as noise. Metaphorically speaking Leydesdorff’s theory is not a theory about ideal gases, but about polluted air.

Keywords: Air, Analysis, Citation, Citations, Gases, Ideal, Model, Noise, Second Order, Social, Social Network, Theory

? Garfield, E. (1998), Random thoughts on citationology. Its theory and practice - Comments on theories of citation? Scientometrics, 43 (1), 69-76.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics43, 69.pdf

Abstract: Theories of citation are as elusive as theories of information science, which have been debated for decades. But as a basis for discussion I offer the term citationology as the theory and practice of citation, including its derivative disciplines citation analysis and bibliometrics. Several maxims, commandments if you will, have been enunciated. References are the result of a specialized symbolic language with a citation syntax and grammar. References, like words, have multiple meanings which are related to the aposteriori quality of citation indexes. Therefore, citation relevance cannot be predicted. Mathematical microtheories in bibliometrics abound, including the apposite laws of scattering and concentration. Citation behavior is a vast sub-set of citation theory, which like citation typology, can never be complete. Deviant citation behavior preoccupies certain authors but it is rarely significant in well-designed citation analyses, where proper cohorts are defined. Myths about uncitedness and the determinants of impact are discussed, as well as journal impact factors as surrogates and observation’s on scientists of Nobel Class. After two years at Johns Hopkins investigating ‘machine documentation,’ and another year as a student of library science, I became, fortuitously, a documentation consultant. By 1954, I called myself an information engineer, which was an apt description of my professional consulting activities. However, Pennsylvania licensing law requires that engineers be graduates of engineering schools. So I became an information scientist! I’ve never thought of myself as an information theoretician and have been skeptical about a need for a theory of information science. I’ve practiced information science and engineering without explicit theoretical support. But undoubtedly there are underlying principles which can guide information scientists who, like myself, could be called ‘citationists’ or ‘citationologists.’ If there is a theory and practice of citation, it should probably be called citationology.

Keywords: Analysis, Behavior, Bibliometrics, Citation, Citation Analysis, Citation Indexes, Concentration, Derivative, Engineering, Impact, Impact Factors, Information, Information Science, Journal, Journal Impact Factors, Language, Law, Practice, Quality, Schools, Science, Student, Support, Surrogates, Theory, Typology

? Fujigaki, Y. (1998), The citation system: Citation networks as repeatedly focusing on difference, continuous re-evaluation, and as persistent knowledge accumulation - Comments on theories of citation? Scientometrics, 43 (1), 77-85.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics43, 77.pdf

Abstract: It can be shown that claims of a lack of theories of citation are also indicative of a grate need for a theory which links science dynamics and measurement. There is a wide gap between qualitative (science dynamics) and quantitative (measurement) approaches. To link them, the present study proposes the use of the citation system, that potentially bridges a gap between measurement and epistemology, by applying system theory to the publication system.(1).

Keywords: Accumulation, Citation, Dynamics, Indicators, Knowledge, Measurement, Persistent, Publication, Qualitative, Science, Theory

Notes: IInstitute

Makino, J. (1998), Productivity of research groups: Relation between citation analysis and reputation within research communities. Scientometrics, 43 (1), 87-93.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics43, 87.pdf

Abstract: In this paper I discuss the relation between widely used ‘Scientometric’ measures and ‘reputation’ of research groups within the scientific community. To this goal, I present the result of the detailed comparison of two research groups of theoretical astrophysics in post-world-war-2nd Japan. Though one of the two groups gained much higher reputation within the research community, we could not find much difference in the macroscopic indices such as the number of publications or the average citation index. The two groups showed similar scores for these macroscopic indices. This result suggests that widely used quantitative measures of the productivity do not give meaningful measure for the actual contribution of a research group to science.

Keywords: Analysis, Citation, Citation Analysis, Communities, Community, Comparison, Goal, Group, Groups, Index, Japan, Paper, Productivity, Publications, Research, Science

? Scharnhorst, A. (1998), Citation - Networks, science landscapes and evolutionary strategies - Comments on theories of citation? Scientometrics, 43 (1), 95-106.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics43, 95.pdf

Abstract: The construction of virtual science landscapes based on citation networks and the strategic use of the information therein shed new light on the issues of the evolution of the science system and possibilities for control. Citations seem to have a key position in the retrieval and valuation of information from scientific communication networks. Leydesdorff’s approach to citation theory takes into account the dual-layered character of communication networks and the second-order nature of the science system. This perspective may help to sharpen the awareness of scientists and science policy makers for possible feedback loops within actions and activities in the science system, and probably nonlinear phenomena resulting therefrom. In this paper an additional link to geometrically oriented evolutionary theories is sketched and a specific landscape concept is used as a framework for some comments.

Keywords: Awareness, Bibliometrics, Citation, Cocitation Analysis, Communication, Concept, Control, Evolution, Feedback, Information, Key, Landscape, Light, Models, Nonlinear, Paper, Policy, Position, Science, Science Policy, Science-Policy, Scientific Communication, Second Order, Strategies, Theory, Valuation

? Vinkler, P. (1998), Comparative investigation of frequency and strength of motives toward referencing, the reference threshold model - Comments on theories of citation? Scientometrics, 43 (1), 107-127.

Full Text: 1998\Scientometrics43, 107.pdf

Abstract: Comparative investigation of frequency and strength of motives of authors toward referencing proves that references-citations can be used for exploring information links between items referencing and referenced. As referencing can be assumed as a peer evaluation process resulted in referencing some papers and neglecting others, citations obtained can be applied for assessing international impact of scientific publication activity.

Keywords: Activity, Bibliometric Analysis, Citation, Citations, Citer Motivations, Departments, Determinants, Evaluation, Impact, Indicators, Information, Information-Science, Investigation, Model, Motives, Obsolescence, Process, Publication, Publications, Quality, Reference, Referencing, Research Performance, Strength, Threshold

? Van Raan, A.F.J. (1998), In matters of quantitative studies of science the fault of theorists is offering too little and asking too much - Comments on theories of citation? Scientometrics,