Introduction to Bibliometrics

Introduction
Bibliometrics
Wednesday, 06 July 2016
Senior Library Assistant
University Libraries: Bolus Herbarium
University of Cape Town
Awot K. Gebregziabher

Introduction to bibliometrics
Definition
Applications overview
Bibliometric services
Common terminologies mentioned
References

Jenny Delasalle (2011: 16)
“A bibliometric is simply a measure relating to publications.”
• publication count
• citation count and further analysis
• Research productivity and impact indicators
h-index, G-index, journal impact factor ...

Jenny Delasalle &
Plume, A. (2016)
Introduction to bibliometrics cont. …

Bibliometrics applications / main research areas
Glänzel (2003: 9) and Andrés (2009: 3-4)
1. Methodology research
2. Scientific Disciplines research (Scientific information)
3. Science Policy and Management Research

Introduction to bibliometrics: Bibliometric
applications cont. …
1. Methodology research
• Focus on development and improvement of
bibliometric indicators
• Research is conducted by bibliometricians

2. Scientific Disciplines research / Scientific information
• Focus on describing science using bibliometric
indicators
• Progress of a research topic area or trends
eg. “A bibliometric study of bioinformatics research in South
Africa.” by Molatudi, M., Molotja, N. & Pouris, A. 2009
• Can be conducted by researchers in any discipline

• Bibliometric indicators are used to evaluate research
productivity and impact
• Governments and funding organizations use
bibliometric indicators to make decisions in their
resource allocation

• Evaluation can be done at different levels
• Institution level, faculty level, research unit level,
individual researcher level
• Most bibliometric services in supporting research is
affiliated to this application

Bibliometric services in academic libraries
• Aim to empower researchers for increased
• Research productivity
• Throughout the research cycle
• Visibility
• Impact

• Bibliometric services provided worldwide
• Assisting with research productivity reports
• Publication count
• Impact analysis using research quality indicators
• h-index, Egghe’s g-index or alternative calculations for
humanities and social science researchers
services cont. …

• Trend analysis for scientific topics over time
• Help in finding research collaborators
• Benchmarking with peers in another institution at any level
• Delivery of bibliometric trainings and education
• individuals
• Group
services cont. …

• Bibliometric trainings include
• How to obtain productivity and impact indicators
• Strategies to produce more visible research product
• Selection of journal when planning to publish
• Use of social media and blogs
• Producing self help online resources
services cont. …

Common terminologies mentioned
Informetrics: measure related to information in any form (Glänzel,
2003: 6)
Scientometrics: measure of science communication (Stuart, 2014:18)
Webometrics / Cybermetrics: measures related to use of information
on internet (Stuart, 2014: 17-18)
Altmetrics: alternative indicators that use social media mentions,
blogs, etc / Web 2.0 technologies (Stuart, 2014: 18-19)

References
• Andrés, A. 2009. Measuring academic research: how to undertake a bibliometric study. Oxford:
Chandos Publishing.
• Bladek, M. 2014. Bibilometrics services and the academic library: meeting the emerging needs of the
campus community. College & Undergraduate Libraries. 21(3): 330-344. DOI:
10.1080/10691316.2014.929066.
• Corrall, S., Kennan, M.A. & Afzal, W. 2013. Bibliometrics and research data management services:
emerging trends in library support for research. Library Trends. 61(3): 636-674. Available:
http://search.proquest.com/docview/1398361546?accountid=14500 [2015, June 17].
• Delasalle, J. 2011. Research evaluation: bibliometrics and the librarian. SCONUL Focus. 53: 15-19.
Available: http://www.sconul.ac.uk/sites/default/files/documents/5_1.pdf [2015, June 30].
• Delasalle, J. & Plume, A. 2016. Research impact metrics for librarians: calculation & context
[Webinar]. Available: https://libraryconnect.elsevier.com/library-connect-webinars [2016, July 04].
• Drummond, R. 2014. RIMS revisited: the evolution of the Research Impact Measurement Service at
UNSW Library. Australian Academic & Research Libraries. 45(4): 309-322. DOI:
10.1080/00048623.2014.945065.

References
• Drummond, R. & Wartho, R. 2009. RIMS: the Research Impact Measurement Service at the
University of New South Wales. Australian Academic & Research Libraries. 40(2): 76-87. DOI:
10.1080/00048623.2009.10721387.
• Glänzel, W. 2003. Bibliometrics as a research field: a course on theory and application of bibliometric
indicators. Available: http://nsdl.niscair.res.in/jspui/bitstream/123456789/968/1/Bib_Module_KUL.pdf
[2016, July 06].
• Gumpenberger, C., Wieland, M. & Gorraiz, J. 2011. Bibliometric practices and activities at the
University of Vienna. Library Management. 33(3): 174-183. Available:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/01435121211217199 [2015, June 17].
• Molatudi, M., Molotja, N. & Pouris, A. 2009. A bibliometric study of bioinformatics research in South
Africa. Scientometrics. 81(1):47-59. Available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11192-007-2048-6 [2015,
June 20].
• Stuart, D. 2014. Web metrics for library and information professionals. London: Facet Publishing.
• University of New South Wales Library. 2015. Research impact guide. Available:
http://subjectguides.library.unsw.edu.au/researchimpact [2015, August 16].

Introduction to Bibliometrics

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