Personal Research Database

Full Text: 1999\Scientometrics46, 443.pdf

Abstract: The coverage of Latin American journals by international databases influences the visibility of these countries’ scientific output, and has a direct effect in their activity index per scientific discipline. Local, regional and international character of the most visible Latin American journals in SCI expanded and restricted databases is analysed, as well as its influence in the percentage share of each country in certain disciplines. Suggestions to enhance visibility of local journals are presented.

Keywords: Activity, Databases, Index, Local, Output, Regional, SCI, Scientific Output, Visibility

? Hinze, S. (1999), Collaboration and cross-disciplinarity in autoimmune diseases. Scientometrics, 46 (3), 457-471.

Full Text: 1999\Scientometrics46, 457.pdf

Abstract: Collaboration and cross-disciplinarity are important features in autoimmune disease research. Taking co-authorship as an indicator for research collaboration, for selected European countries it was found that 91% to 99% of all publications are based on collaboration. International collaboration affects about 27% of all publications. Small countries like Sweden and Finland pursue international collaboration more intensively than larger countries like Germany or the UK. Different collaboration strategies were found for nationally co-authored papers, for instance, Germany seems to focus more on intra-departmental collaboration, while France and Italy have stronger inter-institutional links. About 54% of all publications are based on cross-disciplinary collaboration, which was found to be even more important in international collaboration.

Keywords: Co-Authorship, Collaboration, Disease, Diseases, Features, Finland, France, Germany, Indicator, International Collaboration, Italy, Publications, Research, Research Collaboration, Strategies, Sweden, UK

? Hood, W.W. and Wilson, C.S. (1999), The distribution of bibliographic records in databases using different counting methods for duplicate records. Scientometrics, 46 (3), 473-486.

Full Text: 1999\Scientometrics46, 473.pdf

Abstract: Knowing how records on a particular topic are distributed over databases is useful for both practical and theoretical reasons, however little work in this area appears to have been done. This paper examines the distribution of records on the topic of ‘Fuzzy Set Theory’ in over 100 bibliographic databases and determines whether the distribution of records over databases is similar to the traditional Bradford hyperbolic distribution of records over journals. Different methods for counting duplicate records between and within databases have been developed. A comparison of the various distributions based on these counting methods is presented, and the distributions are compared to results of earlier studies. The results also give an indication of the number of databases necessary to search for coverage of a literature to specified percentages using the different counting techniques developed in this study.

Keywords: Bibliographic Databases, Comparison, Databases, Distribution, Distributions, Hyperbolic, Issues, Methods, Paper, Techniques

Ingwersen, P. and Wormell, I. (1999), Publication behaviour and international impact: Scandinavian clinical and social medicine, 1988-96. Scientometrics, 46 (3), 487-499.

Full Text: 1999\Scientometrics46, 487.pdf

Abstract: The paper presents the results of an empirical study of the Danish and Nordic publication behaviour and international impact in Clinical and Social Medicine covering the period 1988-96. As indicators are applied the international visibility of Scandinavian research output, the publication activity per capita in SCI journals, the development over time of the national citation impact in an OECD and World context, and the ratio of cited papers relative to the World. Compared to May’s analysis (1997), covering 1981-94, the analysis shows that a certain reshuffle of national positions among the OECD countries in citation impact has occurred. UK and New Zealand as well as Denmark and Sweden have lost in ranking to Finland and Belgium, both countries coming up from behind. The most interesting results concern the opposite research policy strategies displayed by Finland and Denmark which result in similar impact patterns relative to the World impact. The implications are discussed.

Keywords: Activity, Analysis, Belgium, Citation, Clinical, Denmark, Development, Finland, Impact, Indicators, New Zealand, Output, Paper, Policy, Publication, Ranking, Research, SCI, Social, Strategies, Sweden, UK, Visibility

? Kretschmer, H. (1999), A new model of scientific collaboration Part 1. Theoretical approach. Scientometrics, 46 (3), 501-518.

Full Text: 1999\Scientometrics46, 501.pdf

Abstract: This study deals with the uniformity of the collaboration process within the scientist’s system by describing all two-dimensional and three-dimensional referential patterns with only one nonlinear function. The variety of these patterns is expressed in dependence upon the conditions or environment that induced them by means of varying the parameters of this non-linear function. Based on their similarity these various patterns can be divided into different types.

Keywords: Collaboration, Dependence, Environment, Function, Model, New Model, Non-Linear, Nonlinear, Parameters, Process, Scientific Collaboration, Similarity, Three-Dimensional, Uniformity

? Kundra, R. and Kretschmer, H. (1999), A new model of scientific collaboration Part 2. Collaboration patterns in Indian medicine. Scientometrics, 46 (3), 519-528.

Full Text: 1999\Scientometrics46, 519.pdf

Abstract: Collaboration in science has become a prevailing trend and it will be worthwhile to study the patterns of co-authorships in scientific research. In this study a three-dimensional behavioural pattern of Indian medicinal co-authorship network is presented. The high evenness of this pattern has caused us to carry out a non-linear regression analysis. The pattern of Indian medicinal co-authorships can be described by the same non-linear mathematical function that describes the behavioural patterns of international medicine co-authorship networks and networks of other scientific disciplines. The following question has arise: Is there a general validity of this function in co-authorship networks?

Keywords: Analysis, Co-Authorship, Co-Authorship Networks, Collaboration, Function, General, Model, New Model, Non-Linear, Non-Linear Regression, Nonlinear, Nonlinear Regression, Regression, Regression Analysis, Research, Science, Scientific Collaboration, Three-Dimensional, Trend, Validity

Lewison, G. (1999), The definition and calibration of biomedical subfields. Scientometrics, 46 (3), 529-537.

Full Text: 1999\Scientometrics46, 529.pdf

Abstract: This paper first explains the need to define subfields of science by means of ‘filters’ that selectively retrieve papers from a database, and then describes how such filters are constructed and calibrated. Good filters should have precision and recall of the order of 90% so as to be representative of a subfield, they are created by an interactive partnership between an expert in the subject and a bibliometrician. They are based primarily on the use of title keywords, often in combination rather than singly, and specialist journals. Their calibration depends on experts marking lists of papers extracted by the filter as relevant, don’t know or not relevant. This allows the actual size of a subfield to be estimated and hence the relative importance accorded to it within a major field of science. It permits organisations and countries to see their contributions to individual scientific subfields in detail

Keywords: Calibration, Fields, Filter, Impact, Importance, Interactive, Order, Paper, Precision, Science, Sciences, Scientific Publications, Size

? De Arenas, J.L., Valles, J. and Arenas, M. (1999), Profile of the Mexican health sciences elite: A bibliometric analysis of research performance. Scientometrics, 46 (3), 539-547.

Full Text: 1999\Scientometrics46, 539.pdf

Abstract: The most prestigious award in Mexico, the ‘National Prize for Science and Art’ has been awarded to 33 health scientists. An exercise was carried out to assess their performance to answer the question: why them? The laureates’ profile was based on data retrieved from MEDLINE and Science Citation Index Expanded available on the WWW as well as the ISI’s 15-year (1981-1995) cumulative impact factor lists. The laureates published 2,049 papers and were cited 50,834 times. Our results showed the scientific pre-eminence of laureates. We concluded that bibliometric data could complement other indicators of research performance. Bibliometrics could insure the Prize committee against error and the operationalization of the Matthew Effect could be minimized to honor only the most creative researchers.

Keywords: Analysis, Bibliometric, Bibliometric Analysis, Cumulative Impact, Exercise, Health, Health Sciences, Impact, Impact Factor, Indicators, Medline, Mexico, Performance, Prizes, Profile, Research, Research Performance, Science Citation Index, Sciences

Luwel, M. (1999), Is the science citation index US-biased? Scientometrics, 46 (3), 549-562.

Full Text: 1999\Scientometrics46, 549.pdf

Abstract: The Western European science policy establishment often claims that US articles are more Frequently cited than articles of the European Union’s scientists because they are published in journals with a large number of US publications and that these journals are forming the ‘core’ of the SCI.

For the disciplines covered by the SCI, no significant correlation has been found between the ratio of the average number of citations per publication for publications with at least one EU address and at least one US address, respectively, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, the ratio of the corresponding number of publications per journal.

Keywords: Citation, Citations, Core, Correlation, Eu, Hand, Index, Journal, Journals, Performance, Policy, Publication, Publications, SCI, Science, Science Citation Index, Science Policy, Science-Policy, US

Macias-Chapula, C.A., Sotolongo-Aguilar, G.R., Magde, B. and Solorio-Lagunas, J. (1999), Subject content analysis of AIDS literature, as produced in Latin America and the Caribbean. Scientometrics, 46 (3), 563-574.

Full Text: 1999\Scientometrics46, 563.pdf

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to present the preliminary results of a research in progress regarding the subject content analysis of AIDS literature, as produced in or about the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region. An AIDSLINE/OVID literature search was conducted to obtain only the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) -geographic- terms related to the LAC region. The period of study was from 1982 to June, 1998

Indicators regarding the distribution of records throughout the years of study, as well as the subject, check tags, and subject/subheadings distribution patterns were analysed. This was done through rile application of a modular bibliometric information system, as well as the applications of Biblio-Link for Windows, Version 1.2 1994-1997, Research Information Systems, Pro-Cite for Windows, Version 4.0.1 1995-1998, Research Information Systems, and Microsoft EXCEL 97, of 1985-1998, Microsoft Corporation.

A total of 4124 records were obtained and analysed. In descending order, Brazil, Mexico, Haiti, Argentina and Puerto Rico, generated the highest number of citations. Highly ranked MeSH subject headings were Risk Factors, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Sex Behavior, Support, Non US. Govt., HIV Infections, and Developing Countries.

Results demonstrate that major research concerns centred on the epidemiological aspects and transmission of AIDS, and more recently, on the prevention and control of the disease. A switch of the studies from male to female, and from middle age to adolescence was also observed. The authors provide further lines of research.

Keywords: Adolescence, Age, AID, AIDS, Analysis, Applications, Argentina, Bibliometric, Brazil, Caribbean, Citations, Content Analysis, Control, Disease, Distribution, Distribution Patterns, Female, HIV, Immunodeficiency-Syndrome Aids, Information, Information System, Latin America, Male, Mexico, Order, Paper, Prevention, Puerto Rico, Research, US

Moed, H.F., Van Leeuwen, T.N. and Reedijk, J. (1999), Towards appropriate indicators of journal impact. Scientometrics, 46 (3), 575-589.

Full Text: 1999\Scientometrics46, 575.pdf

Abstract: This paper reviews a range of studies conducted by the authors on indicators reflecting scholarly journal impact. A critical examination of the journal impact data in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR), published by the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) has shown that the JCR impact factor is inaccurate and biased towards journals revealing a rapid maturing or decline in impact. In addition, it was found that the JCR cited half life is an inappropriate measure of decline of journal impact. More appropriate impact measures of scholarly journals are proposed. A new classification system is explored, describing both maturing and decline of journal impact as measured through citations. Suggestions for future research are made, analysing in more detail the distribution of citations among papers in a journal.

Keywords: Citations, Classification, Distribution, Examination, Half-Life, Impact, Impact Factor, Indicators, Institute, Institute for Scientific Information, ISI, Journal, Journal Citation Reports, Life, Made, Obsolescence, Paper, Range, Research, Reviews, Scientific Literature

? Noyons, E., Moed, H. and Van Raan, A. (1999), Integrating research performance analysis and science mapping. Scientometrics, 46 (3), 591-604.

Full Text: 1999\Scientometrics46, 591.pdf

Abstract: In this paper we present the explorations of combining the two main pillars of evaluative bibliometrics. These two pillars, performance analysis and science mapping, both have their strengths and imperfections. In this study we show how these imperfections are dealt with by an integrated analysis.

Keywords: Analysis, Bibliometrics, Indicators, Mapping, Paper, Performance, Research, Research Performance, Science, Strengths, Subfields

? Rao, I.K.R. and Suma, M.P. (1999), A quantitative study of Indian engineering literature. Scientometrics, 46 (3), 605-619.

Full Text: 1999\Scientometrics46, 605.pdf

Abstract: In recent years, several projects were sponsored by NISSAT of the Goverment of India to map Indian Science. As a part of it, a database (COMPENDEX) in engineering field was analysed. It has been found that engineers in India publish their articles mostly in journals, almost all of them publish in English language. They publish in a selected few journals. Only a few of the institutions are concentrated in engineering research. It has been observed that research output in applied physics, light & optics, bioengineering and information science are increasing both at the world and India level. In the area of energy technology metallurgical engineering and food technology, research output is decreasing at both levels.

Keywords: Energy, Engineering, Food, India, Information, Information Science, Institutions, Language, Levels, Light, Optics, Output, Recent, Research, Science

Vinkler, P. (1999), Ratio of short term and long term impact factors and similarities of chemistry journals represented by references. Scientometrics, 46 (3), 621-633.

Full Text: S\Scientometrics46, 621.pdf

Abstract: Some important bibliometric characteristics of chemistry journals were studied. Contrary to expectations, calculations of impact factors asynchronized for shorter and longer periods yield similar values. A new overlap measure for journals is suggested which is based on frequency distribution of references by journals.

Keywords: Bibliometric, Characteristics, Distribution, Impact, Impact Factors, Long-Term, Scientometric Indicators, Subfields, Yield

? Wagner-Döbler, R. (1999), William Goffman’s ‘Mathematical Approach to the Prediction of Scientific Discovery’ and its application to logic, revisited. Scientometrics, 46 (3), 635-645.

Full Text: 1999\Scientometrics46, 635.pdf

Abstract: Based on the observation of regular ‘epidemic’ recurrence of activity in the history of symbolic logic, a new wave of logic activity was predicted by Goffman in 1971 for the coming years. This prediction is examined and confirmed to some extent. It is shown, however, that the whole mathematics came in a wave-like fashion in the last 200 years, that the main fluctuations of logic were isochronic with the main fluctuations of mathematics, and, in addition, that fundamental logic contributions appeared on the top of the waves. After considering some problems of time-series analysis, relationships to business cycles of the Kondratiev, Kuznets, and Juglar types are discussed.

Keywords: Activity, Analysis, History, Observation, Prediction, Recurrence, Time Series Analysis, Time-Series, Waves

Wilson, C.S. (1999), Using online databases to form subject collections for informetric analyses. Scientometrics, 46 (3), 647-667.

Full Text: 1999\Scientometrics46, 647.pdf

Abstract: The online databases of the Dialog System retrieve only 26% of documents in an exhaustively compiled collection on the subject of Bradford’s Law of Scattering, with some documents being retrieved from many databases. However, when the Exhaustive Collection is more stringently defined to include only those documents more about the subject, the retrieval rate of Dialog improves to 61%, while its most productive database, LISA, alone retrieves 37%. Both of these ‘samples’ give good estimates of the size-invariant properties of the Exhaustive Collection which are typically studied in Bradford and Growth Analyses - vindicating this use of online searching. However, without additional information, online searches are of little use in determining size-related properties of subject literature collections. Whether the analysis reported here - which relies on identical interpretations of a ‘subject’ - has secure foundations is briefly considered.

Keywords: Analysis, Databases, Information, Models, Properties, Searching

? Zitt, M. and Bassecoulard, E. (1999), Internationalization of communication - A view on the evolution of scientific journals. Scientometrics, 46 (3), 669-685.

Full Text: 1999\Scientometrics46, 669.pdf

Abstract: Starting from a characterization of the level of internationalization of SCI journals, based on their authoring scope, the process of internationalization of scientific communication throughout the period 1981-97 is described. The growth of the classes of international journals at the expense of national-oriented ones, appears as a general trend in all disciplines. A kindred measure of internationalization at the country-level is proposed, based on the balance of country-authored publications between national-oriented and international-oriented journals. A typology of countries is sketched. The general trend towards internalionalization is also clear at the country level. It can be generally interpreted as a positive evolution, with some exceptions as Russia in the recent period, where it appears together with the output decline, a counterpart of the disappearance of many journals from SCI. Some other examples of shocks with a covariation of internationalization and output are given. Country internationalization indexes also express the sensitivity of the country output indicators to the possible restriction of SCI sample to the international fraction. Considering evolutions of internationalization may be helpful for a comprehensive study of scientific long-term evolutions at the country level.

Keywords: Balance, Characterization, Citation, Communication, Countries, Evolution, Fraction, General, Growth, Impact, Indicators, Long-Term, Output, Process, Publication, Publications, Recent, Restriction, Russia, SCI, Scientific Communication, Sensitivity, Set, Trend, Typology

? Ramirez, A.M., Garcia, E.O. and Del Rio, J.A. (2000), Renormalized impact factor. Scientometrics, 47 (1), 3-9.

Full Text: 2000\Scientometrics47, 3.pdf

Abstract: Many aspects determine the quality of scientific journals. The impact factor is one of these quantitative parameters. However, the impact factor has a strong dependence on the journal discipline. This dependence forbids a direct comparison between different journals without introducing external considerations. In this paper, a renormalized impact factor, F-r, inspired in the definition of dimensionless physical parameters, is proposed. F-r allows a direct comparison among journals classified into different categories and, furthermore, the time evolution analysis of the journal’s role in its field.

Keywords: Analysis, Citation Analysis, Comparison, Dependence, Evolution, Impact, Impact Factor, Journal, Journals, Paper, Parameters, Physical, Quality, Role

Clavería, L.E., Guallar, E., Camí, J., Conde, J., Pastor, R., Ricoy, J.R., Rodríguez-Farré, E., Ruiz-Palomo, F. and Muñoz, E. (2000), Does peer review predict the performance of research projects in health sciences? Scientometrics, 47 (1), 11-13.

Full Text: S\Scientometrics47, 11.pdf

Abstract: Peer review is a basic component of the scientific process, but its performance has seldom been evaluated systematically. To determine whether pre-approval characteristics of research projects predicted the performance of projects, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of all 2744 single-centre research projects financed by the Spanish Health Research Fund since 1988 and completed before 1996. Peer review scores of grant applications were significant predictors of performance of funded projects, and the likelihood of production was also higher for projects with a basic research component, longer duration, higher budget or a financed research fellow. Funding agencies should monitor their selection process and assess the performance of funded projects to design future strategies in supporting health sciences research.

? Eto, H. (2000), Authorship and citation patterns in operational research journals in relation to competition and reform. Scientometrics, 47 (1), 25-42.

Full Text: 2000\Scientometrics47, 25.pdf

Abstract: Authorship and citation patterns in major journals in operational research (OR) are analysed. As a forerunner of interdisciplinary specialties applying mathematical or quantitative methods to social problems, OR has recently been in severe competition with new challengers with respect to applicable methods and real implementation. Through the analyses of authorship and citation patterns, this paper discusses behaviours of the journal editors and contributors with regard to the competition and reform policy of OR journals.

Keywords: Authorship, Citation, Competition, Flagship Journals, Implementation, Interdisciplinary, Journal, Methods, Model, OR, MS, Paper, Policy, Research, Research Journals, Research Perspective, Social, Social Problems, Systems

? Pollmann, T. (2000), Forgetting and the ageing of scientific publications. Scientometrics, 47 (1), 43-54.

Full Text: 2000\Scientometrics47, 43.pdf

Abstract: In this paper, I will argue that the process of ageing in scientific publications on the one hand, and the process of obsolescence and forgetting to which all kinds of phenomena, people and events are exposed on the other, develop with the same speed. Whereas in the literature on the subject it is stared that the speed of the ageing of scientific literature is exponential, it is shown that the decay from ‘age 4’ is best described by an inverse function, as was already brought to light in reference to forgetting of people and events as measured by the frequencies of calendar years in large text corpora. The empirical bases are SCI data as presented by Nakamoto and various files of reference data collected by the author. It is shown that the decay curve of the reference frequencies from ‘age 4’ backwards is independent of time.

Keywords: Age, Ageing, Backwards, Citation, Decay, Function, Hand, Light, Obsolescence, Paper, Process, Publications, Reference, SCI, Scientific Publications, Speed

Ding, Y., Chowdhury, G.G. and Foo, S. (2000), Journal as markers of intellectual space: Journal co-citation analysis of information Retrieval area, 1987-1997. Scientometrics,