BIBLIOMETRICS.ppt

? Tefko Saracevic ? Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University BIBLIOMETRICS Tefko Saracevic Rutgers University /~tefko What is? “… all studies which seek to quantify processes of written communication.” Pritchard “… the quantitative treatment of the propertiesd of recorded discourse and behavior pertaining to it.” Fairthorne Recorded communication - ‘literature’- quantitative methods Alan Pritchard 1969 Coined the term bibliometrics the application of mathematics and statistical methods to books and other media of communication“ Journal of Documentation (1969) 25(4):348-349 and other related metrics … Also used to study broader than books, articles … Scientometrics covering science in general, not just publications Infometrics all information objects Webmetrics or cybermetrics web connections, manifestations using bibliometric techniques to study the relationship or properties of different sites on the web Concepts Basic (primitive) concepts: 1. Subject 2. Recorded communication - document, information object 3. Subject literature Bibliometrics related to: science of science sociology of science - numerical methods Literature studies Qualitative often in humanities, librarianship Quantitative bibliometrics Mixed Reasons for quantitative studies of literature Analysis of structure and dynamics search for regularities - predictions possible Understanding of patterns “order out of documentary chaos” verification of models, assumptions Rationale for policies design Why quantitative studies? Qualitative methods often depend on assertions. ‘authoritative’ statements, anecdotal evidence Science searches for regularities Success of statistical methods in social sciences Need for justification basis for decisions Something can be counted - irresistible Application in ... History of science Sociology of science Science policy; resource allocation Library selection, weeding, policies Information organization Information management utilization Historical note Bibliometri