Scientometrics is the quantitative study of science, communication in science, and science policy. It involves the analysis, evaluation, and visualization of science using quantitative methods. Some key points:
- The term was coined in 1969 in Russia and gained recognition after the founding of the journal Scientometrics in 1978.
- It applies bibliometric methods to measure the impact and quality of science by analyzing patterns of citation and publication.
- Important indicators include the journal impact factor, h-index, and citation analysis which are used to evaluate scientific institutions, departments, and individual researchers.
- Tools like CiteSpace and Authormap are used to map and visualize citation networks and trends within literature.