Final published version
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
<mark>Journal publication date</mark> | 04/2012 |
---|---|
<mark>Journal</mark> | Journal of The American Society for Information Science and Technology |
Issue number | 4 |
Volume | 63 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Pages (from-to) | 829-836 |
Publication Status | Published |
Early online date | 14/02/12 |
<mark>Original language</mark> | English |
The controversial use of bibliometrics in scientific decision making has necessitated the need for researchers to remain informed and engaged about bibliometrics. Glanzel and Schoepflin (1994) first raised the issue of bibliometric standards in bibliometric research and this concern has been echoed by several additional bibliometric researchers over time (Braun, 2010; Glanzel, 1996; Abbott, Cyranoski, Jones, Maher, Schiermeier, & Van Noorden, 2010; Lane, 2010; Nature, 2010; van Noorden, 2010; Wallin, 2005). We compare the characteristics of articles published within and outside the Library and Information Science (LIS) field, including the relative impact and the affiliation of the contributing authors. We find that although the visibility of bibliometric articles within LIS is higher, it is not significant. However, a statistically significant growth in the number of articles written by authors without a bibliometric affiliation was found. This article provides an independent empirical investigation of publication trends potentially underlying Gl nzel and Schoepflin's (1994) concerns regarding the misuse of bibliometric results, and the inaccurate dissemination of concepts, results, and methods outside of the bibliometric field.