Personal Research Database

Full Text: 2001\Scientometrics51, 147.pdf

Abstract: Results are presented on journal growth dynamics at both the micro and macro levels, showing that journal development clearly follows researcher behaviour and growth characteristics. At the subject discipline level, the journal system is highly responsive to research events. Overall journal growth characteristics clearly show the predominance of 3.3% compound annual growth under a number of different socio-political climates. It is proposed that this represents a lower limit to journal growth rates and that this growth is the outcome of a self-organizing information system that reflects on the growth and specialization of knowledge. Potential models are suggested which could form attractive theoretical further lines of enquiry.

Keywords: Journals, Research, Scientific Journals, System

? Meyer, M.S. (2001), Patent citation analysis in a novel field of technology: An exploration of nano-science and nano-technology. Scientometrics, 51 (1), 163-183.

Full Text: 2001\Scientometrics51, 163.pdf

Abstract: This paper explores the interrelationships between science and technology in the emerging area of nano-science and technology. We track patent citation relations at the sectoral-disciplinary, the organizational, and the combined industrial/organizational levels, Then we investigate the geographic location and organizational affiliation of inventor/authors, Our main finding is that there are only a small number of citations connecting nano-patents with nano-science papers, while nano-science and technology appear to be relatively well connected in comparison with other fields. Further explorations suggest that nano-science and technology are still mostly separated spheres, even though there are overlaps, as an analysis of title words shows. Another observation is that university-assigned patents seem to cite papers more frequently than other patents.

Keywords: Citation, Citation Analysis, Citations, Nanoscience, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Nanotechnology, Patent, Patents, Science, Science and Technology, Technical Change, Technology

? Michel, J. and Bettels, B. (2001), Patent citation analysis - A closer look at the basic input data from patent search reports. Scientometrics, 51 (1), 185-201.

Full Text: 2001\Scientometrics51, 185.pdf

Abstract: The present paper focuses on some important requirements for understanding patent search reports in view of their use for statistical analysis. It is pointed out and illustrated that the comprehensiveness and the quality of a given search report may vary significantly as a function of the patent office drawing up the report. These differences imply consequences with respect to the safe use and interpretation of the data. The authors stress that a sound analysis based on patent citation data can only be performed in a meaningful way if the analyst has a minimum knowledge of the underlying search reports.

Keywords: Citation, Citation Analysis, Indicators, Patent, Science, Technology

Morillo, F., Bordons, M. and Gomez, I. (2001), An approach to interdisciplinarity bibliometric indicators. Scientometrics, 51 (1), 203-222.

Full Text: 2001\Scientometrics51, 203.pdf

Abstract: Interdisciplinarity has become of increasing interest in science in the past few years. This paper is a case study in the area of Chemistry, in which a series of different bibliometric indicators for measuring interdisciplinarity are presented. The following indicators are analysed: a) ISI multi- classification of journals in categories, b) patterns of citations and references outside category and c) multi- assignation of documents in Chemical Abstracts sections. Convergence between the different indicators is studied. Depending on the size of the unit analysed (area, category or journal) the most appropriate indicators are determined

Keywords: Bibliometric, Citations, Interdisciplinarity, Journals, Science, Scientometrics

? Narvaez-Berthelemot, N. and Russell, J.M. (2001), World distribution of social science journals: A view from the periphery. Scientometrics, 51 (1), 223-239.

Full Text: 2001\Scientometrics51, 223.pdf

Abstract: An analysis carried out on the 4.326 periodicals in the social sciences included in the most recent 1991 printed edition of the UNESCO DARE database showed that 64% of the world’s production is published by High Income Economy countries (IEC). Only 0.7% of Low IEC journals in the UNESCO database were also present in the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCT) for the same year while corresponding figures for the Middle and High IEC were 2.3%, and 97.0%, respectively. With the notable exception of the United States, all countries had fewer journals in SSCI than in UNESCO database.

Keywords: Analysis, Database, Distribution, Journals, Periodicals, Science, Science Journals, Sciences, Social, Social Sciences, SSCI, Unesco, United States

Nederhof, A.J., Luwel, M. and Moed, H.F. (2001), Assessing the quality of scholarly journals in Linguistics: An alternative to citation-based journal impact factors. Scientometrics, 51 (1), 241-265.

Full Text: 2001\Scientometrics51, 241.pdf

Abstract: Methods were developed to allow quality assessment of academic research in linguistics in all sub-disciplines. Data were obtained from samples of respondents from Flanders, the Netherlands, as well as a world-wide sample, evaluated journals, publishers, and scholars. Journals and publishers were ranked by several methods. First, we weighted the number of times journals or publishers were ranked as ‘outstanding’, ‘good’. or ‘occasionally, not at all good’. To reduce the influence of unduly positive or negative biases of respondents, the most extreme ratings were trimmed. A second weight reflects the (international) visibility of journals and publishers. Here, journals or publishers nominated by respondents from various countries or samples received a greater weight than journals or publishers nominated by respondents from one country or one sample only. Thirdly, a combined index reflects both quality and international visibility. Its use is illustrated on the output of scholars in linguistics. Limitations and potentials for application of bibliometric methods in output assessments are discussed

Keywords: Behavioral- Sciences, Bibliometric, Bibliometric Indicators, Fields, Humanities, Journal Impact, Journals, Methods, Questionnaire, Research, Research Performance, Scientometrics

? Polanco, X., Francois, C. and Lamirel, J.C. (2001), Using artificial neural networks for mapping of science and technology: A multi-self-organizing-maps approach. Scientometrics, 51 (1), 267-292.

Full Text: 2001\Scientometrics51, 267.pdf

Abstract: We argue in favour of artificial neural networks for exploratory data analysis, clustering and mapping. We propose the Kohonen self-organizing map (SOM) for clustering and mapping according to a multi-maps extension. It is consequently called Multi-SOM. Firstly the Kohonen SOM algorithm is presented. Then the following improvements are detailed: the way of naming the clusters, the map division into logical areas, and the map generalization mechanism. The multi-map display founded on the inter-maps communication mechanism is exposed, and the notion of the viewpoint is introduced. The interest of Multi-SOM is presented for visualization, exploration or browsing, and moreover for scientific and technical information analysis. A case study in patent analysis on transgenic plants illustrates the use of the Multi-SOM. We also show that the inter-map communication mechanism provides support for watching the plants on which patented genetic technology works. It is the first map. The other four related maps provide information about the plant parts that are concerned, the target pathology, the transgenic techniques used for making these plants resistant, and finally the firms involved in genetic engineering and patenting. A method of analysis is also proposed in the use of this computer-based multi-maps environment. Finally, we discuss some critical remarks about the proposed approach at its current state. And we conclude about the advantages that it provides for a knowledge-oriented watching analysis on science and technology. In relation with this remark we introduce in conclusion the notion of knowledge indicators.

Keywords: Data Analysis, Mapping, Mechanism, Patent, Patent Analysis, Science, Science And Technology, Technology

? Rinia, E.J., van Leeuwen, T.N., Bruins, E.E.W., van Vuren, H.G. and van Raan, A.F.J. (2001), Citation delay in interdisciplinary knowledge exchange. Scientometrics, 51 (1), 293-309.

Full Text: 2001\Scientometrics51, 293.pdf

Abstract: As part of a larger project to investigate knowledge flows between fields of science, we studied the differences in speed of knowledge transfer within and across disciplines. The age distribution of references in three selections of articles was analysed, including almost 800,000 references in journal publications of the United Kingdom in 1992, 700,000 references in publications of Germany in 1992, and more than 11 million references in the world total of publications in 1998. The rate of citing documented knowledge from other disciplines appears to differ sharply among disciplines. For most of the disciplines the same ratio’s are found in the three data sets. Exceptions show interesting differences in the interdisciplinary nature of a field in a country. We find a general tendency of a citation delay in case of knowledge transfer between different fields of science: citations to work of the own discipline show less of a time lag than citations to work in a foreign discipline. Between disciplines typical differences in the speed of incorporating knowledge from other disciplines are observed, which appear to be relatively independent of time and place: for each discipline the same pattern is found in the three data sets. The discipline specific characteristics found in the speed of interdisciplinary knowledge transfer may be point of departure for further investigations. Results may contribute to explanations of differences in citation rates of interdisciplinary research.

Keywords: Articles, Citation, Citations, Publication Delays, Publications, Research, Science, Scientific Literature, United Kingdom

? Schwechheimer, H. and Winterhager, M. (2001), Mapping interdisciplinary research fronts in neuroscience: A bibliometric view to retrograde amnesia. Scientometrics, 51 (1), 311-318.

Full Text: 2001\Scientometrics51, 311.pdf

Abstract: The neoroscience research front on Retrograde Amnesia is taken as an example to demonstrate the capabilities of co-citation mapping in combination with peer review. In an interview with a well-known expert in the field the co-citation map was confirmed as a good representation of the speciality. The expert was able to identify and comment on different regions of the map and he could validate important documents in the cluster core and research front as well as the main actors on institutional and national level. The bibliometric data inspired the expert to outline the cognitive and social ‘history’ of the speciality.

? Thomas, P. (2001), A relationship between technology indicators and stock market performance. Scientometrics, 51 (1), 319-333.

Full Text: 2001\Scientometrics51, 319.pdf

Abstract: One of the main objectives of technology analyses is to understand how investing in technological innovation can have commercial benefits. However, empirical studies of the relationship between investments in technology and subsequent economic performance are relatively scarce. This paper provides such an analysis by demonstrating how quantitative R&D and technology indicators may be used to forecast company stock price performance. The purpose of the analysis is to utilize a unique patent database, and the science and technology indicators developed from the data therein, to explore this issue of technological competence and economic performance. The underlying concept behind this study is that the quality of a company’s technology is reflected in its patent portfolio. Previous research has shown that a company with a large percentage of influential parents is much more likely to be technologically successful than a company with weaker patents. The analysis presented here reveals that such a company is also more likely to be successful in capital markets.

Keywords: Database, Output, Patent, Patents, R&D, R-And-D, Research, Science, Science and Technology, Technological Innovation, Technology

Van Leeuwen, T.N., Moed, H.F., Tijssen, R.J.W., Visser, M.S. and Van Raan, A.F.J. (2001), Language biases in the coverage of the Science Citation Index and its consequences for international comparisons of national research performance. Scientometrics, 51 (1), 335-346.

Full Text: 2001\Scientometrics51, 335.pdf

Abstract: Empirical evidence presented in this paper shows that the utmost care must be taken ininterpreting bibliometric data in a comparative evaluation of national research systems. From the results of recent studies, the authors conclude that the value of impact indicators of research activities at the level of an institution or a country strongly depend upon whether one includes or excludes research publications in SCI covered journals written in other languages than in English. Additional material was gathered to show the distribution of SCI papers among publication languages. Finally, the authors make suggestions for further research on how to deal with this type of problems in future national research performance studies.

? van Raan, A.F.J. (2001), Competition amongst scientists for publication status: Toward a model of scientific publication and citation distributions. Scientometrics, 51 (1), 347-357.

Full Text: 2001\Scientometrics51, 347.pdf

Abstract: We present a model in which scientists compete with each other in order to acquire status for their publications in a two-step-process: first, to get their work published in better journals, and second, to get this work cited in these journals. On the basis of two Maxwell-Boltzmann type distribution functions of source publications we derive a distribution function of citing publications over source publications. This distribution function corresponds very well to the empirical data. In contrast to all observations so far, we conclude that this distribution of citations over publications, which is a crucial phenomenon in scientometrics. is not a power law, but a modified Bessel-function.

Keywords: Citation, Citations, Journals, Publication, Publications, Science, Scientific Publication, Scientometrics

? Grupp, H., Schmoch, U. and Hinze, S. (2001), International alignment and scientific regard as macro-indicators for international comparisons of publications. Scientometrics, 51 (2), 359-380.

Full Text: 2001\Scientometrics51, 359.pdf

Abstract: Many international comparisons of the publication performance at the macro level are based on direct counts of citation frequencies in the Science Citation Index. However, these comparisons may reveal a significant negative language bias for non-English-speaking countries, or other selection biases, which can be illustrated by the relation between research budgets of scientific institutions and SCI publications. Against this background, a two-dimensional representation, specifying for the international alignment of the national publications and the journal-standardized citation impact, proves to be a more appropriate indicator base to assess the citation performance of countries such as Germany. In the light of a ten countries’ benchmark, time series of these indicators for the nineties show a considerable impact of the German unification with a recent trend towards an adaptation of publication behaviour in East Germany towards the Western patterns.

Keywords: Citation, Citation Impact, Impact, International, Publication, Publications, Research, Sci, Science, Science Citation Index

? Koljatic, M. and Silva, M. (2001), The international publication productivity of Latin American countries in the economics and business administration fields. Scientometrics, 51 (2), 381-394.

Full Text: 2001\Scientometrics51, 381.pdf

Abstract: The present study compares the international publication productivity of Latin American countries in the fields of business administration and economics from 1995 to 1999. Only four countries - Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Mexico - have a substantial research production in these areas. Among these countries, Chile showed the most favorable results according to various indicators of publication productivity.

Keywords: Authorship, Behavioral-Sciences, Citation Analysis, Indicators, Journals, Management, Mexico, Patterns, Publication, Publication Productivity, Research, Research Production, Scientists, Social-Sciences, Subfields

? de Marchi, M. and Rocchi, M. (2001), The editorial policies of scientific journals: Testing an impact factor model. Scientometrics, 51 (2), 395-404.

Full Text: 2001\Scientometrics51, 395.pdf

Abstract: There is an evident need for the most scrupulous assessment possible of the fruits of research tin the context considered here, namely, publications) with a qualitative hence in-depth analysis of the single products of R&D. But this would require time and competences which not all policy makers have at their disposal. Hopefully, quantitative procedures, apparently objective and easy to apply, would be able to surmount these difficulties. The diffusion of the quantitative evaluation of research is, that is, the policy makers’ adaptive response to the need to increase controls of the efficiency of public spending in R&D - since public investment clearly could not be determined at the outset on the basis of the market’s spontaneous, decentralised balancing mechanisms. An essential step towards the prevention of the distortions most likely to result from quantitative evaluation is the adoption of quantitative procedures of evaluation of the editorial policies of scientific journals - or, rather, of journals which claim to be scientific. Such procedures must be designed to highlight any distortions caused by the non-optimal editorial policies of journals. With quantitative evaluation, in fact, journals play a crucial role in the formation of public science policies. They thus have to be subjected to specific monitoring to make sure that their conduct fits in with the prerequisites necessary for them to perform their semi-official activity as certifiers of the quality of the products of research. The phenomena of the production, divulgation and fruition of scientific discovery are, of course, so complex that it is necessary to weigh them not with a single indicator, however helpful it may be, but with a constellation of indicators. We received confirmation of the reliability of the impact factor as an instrument to monitor the quality of research and as a means of evaluating the research itself. This is a reassuring result for the current formulation of public policies and confirms the substantial honesty of the competition mechanisms of the scientific enterprise.

Keywords: Assessment, Citation Counts, Competition, Complex, Diffusion, Editorial Policies, Evaluation, Fruits, Impact, Impact Factor, Indicators, Journals, Mechanisms, Publications, R&D, Research, Science, Scientific Journals

? Sutter, M. and Kocher, M.G. (2001), Power laws of research output. Evidence for journals of economics. Scientometrics, 51 (2), 405-414.

Full Text: 2001\Scientometrics51, 405.pdf

Abstract: In this paper we examine the validity of Lotka’s law and Zipf’s law for research output in 15 top journals of economics in the period 1977 to 1997. Our data for individual authors satisfy a general form of Lotka’s law. We find increasing competition over time among economists on the individual level. However, publications in top journals are concentrated heavily when the institutional level is under consideration. Research output of institutions can be fit adequately by Zipf’s law.

Keywords: Competition, Core Journals, Journals, Lotka’S Law, Publications, Relative Impacts, Research, Research Output

? Garg, K.C. and Padhi, P. (2001), A study of collaboration in laser science and technology. Scientometrics, 51 (2), 415-427.

Full Text: 2001\Scientometrics51, 415.pdf

Abstract: An analysis of 3174 papers published in journals in the field of laser science and technology indicate that only 401 papers were single authored and the rest 2773 were co-authored papers. Of the 2773 papers, only 687 were written in local (inter-departmental), domestic (inter-institutional) and international collaboration. As reflected by the values of collaborative coefficient and coauthorship index, it is observed that the proportion of mega-authored papers for Japan, France, Italy, and the Netherlands was more, while for Canada, China, and Australia the proportion of single authored papers was more. Most of the collaborative papers had bilateral domestic and international collaboration. Domestic collaborations were higher for USA, Japan, France and Australia, while international collaboration was higher for China, Israel, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.

Keywords: China, Collaboration, France, International Collaboration, International Scientific Collaboration, Journals, Population-Genetics Speciality, Science, Science And Technology, Scientometrics, Technology, Usa

? Genest, C. and Thibault, C. (2001), Investigating the concentration within a research community using joint publications and co-authorship via intermediaries. Scientometrics, 51 (2), 429-440.

Full Text: 2001\Scientometrics51, 429.pdf

Abstract: Given extensive research collaboration in modem science, both at the national and international level, one might wonder whether the network of researchers within each discipline is now sufficiently meshed that a large proportion of contributors to peer-reviewed journals in a given field could either share joint publications or, more realistically, be connected through chains of co-authorships. Such is not the case yet in the fields of probability and statistics, however, as shown here using a large data base covering 9 reknown journals from each of these two areas over the period 1986-1995.

Keywords: Co-Authorship, Coauthorship Networks, Collaboration, Data Base, International Scientific Collaboration, Invisible-Colleges, Journals, Patterns, Probability, Publications, Research, Research Collaboration, Researchers, Science, Statistics

? Van den Besselaar, P. (2001), The cognitive and the social structure of STS. Scientometrics, 51 (2), 441-460.

Full Text: 2001\Scientometrics51, 441.pdf

Abstract: The differentiation of scientific fields into sub-fields can be studied on the level of the ‘scientific content’ of the sub-field, that is on the level of the products, as well as on the level of the ‘social structures’ of the sub-field, that is on the lever of the producers of the content. By comparing the behavior of the constructs with the behavior of the constructors, we are able to demonstrate the analytical distinction between a cognitive and a social approach in an empirical way. This will be illustrated using the case of integration and differentiation in Science and Technology Studies (STS), Elsewhere, using relations between documents, I showed how STS is characterized by strong differentiation tendencies. In this paper I address the question to what extent this differentiation is also reflected in the social structure of the STS field. Can STS scholars and STS research groups be classified in terms of the sub-fields? Or do researchers and institutes carry an integrative role in the STS field? Are the relations between the sub-fields of STS maintained by individual researchers or research institutes, and to what extent? The analysis in this paper reveals that this is generally not the case. Although we are able to distinguish analytically between the cognitive and social dimension of the development of the research field, we find similar patterns of differentiation an the social level too. At the same time, this differentiation differs in some respects from the cognitive differentiation pattern. Consequently, the social and the cognitive dimensions of the STS field are not independent as no serious STS scholar would argue - but also not identical, as radical constructivists claim, but are strongly interacting Further analysis may reveal the leading dynamics, that is answering the question whether the ‘social’ follows the ‘cognitive’, the other way around, or whether the dynamics has the pattern of ‘co-evolution’.

Keywords: Groups, Integration, Research, Researchers, Science, Technology

? Mccain, K.W. (2001), Dr. Belver C. Grittith - Introduction. Scientometrics,