Applicability of the Bradford distribution to international science and technology indicators

This is to assess the applicability of the Bradford distribution to an international science-technology indicators problem. The Bradford distribution which has been empirically known to be valid for the number of scientific articles on a given research topic across journals is applied to the number of scientific articles in a given research field across nations. The Bradford distribution is herein found to provide information of the degree of scientific-technological inequitability between advanced and latecomer nations and, more characteristically, a method for classification of nations into core, middle and peripheral classes with respect to their S&T selfreliance. This may suggest the usefulness of the Bradford distribution for anylsis of international science-technology indicators. Some theoretical discussions on mathematical properties of the Bradford distribution are given.     

Summing up approaches to the study of science and technology indicators

Attempts to reduce the multiplicity and variety of the range of indicators presently used to measure science and technology to lean patterns have so far proved unsuccessful. The reason for this is the ongoing lack of an all-comprehensive theory to rationalise every aspect of intricate and as yet obscure processes such as scientific discovery and technological innovation. We ought to expect from a theory of scientific and technological progress satisfactory not only in abstract terms but also as an empirical analysis is a composition of two aspects — static and dynamic — in a few homogeneous variables.     

Comments on “international indicators of science and technology”

Science Indicators-1976 has been prepared with a great deal of skill and is a valuable document. The fact that it reflects the unsatisfactory state of basic knowledge of the ways in which science and technology affect, and are affected by, various economic, social, and political variables of interest to policy makers is no fault of its authors. Nonetheless, in handling some topics, the report might have gone further in indicating the limitations of the measures used. Also, several topics omitted from the report might be considered for inclusion in subsequent editions.     

Tracing the knowledge transfer from science to technology as reflected in patent indicators

The use of references of patent search reports as transfer indications needs a good theoretical understanding of the underlying examination procedures. On this background, different patent indicators based on sample patents and on respective references can be established and combined to a network which gives an interesting insight into the complex process of knowledge transfer from science to technology.     

The US-EU race for leadership of science and technology: Qualitative and quantitative indicators

Both the United States and the European Union have set goals for worldwide leadership of science and technology. While the U. S. leads in most input quantitative indicators, output indicators may be more specific for determining present leadership. They show that the EU has taken the lead in important metrics and is challenging the U. S. in others. Qualitative indicators of fields of research and development, based on expert review studies organized by the authors, confirm that many EU labs are equal or better than those in the U. S. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Science indicators and science policy

The relation of science indicators to science policy raises several questions. First is the definition of the system, whether just academic science or the entire system of technical innovation from research through manufacturing and marketing or government policy and operations. Second is society's expectations whose realization depends more on political social factors than on science itself. Third is how the output of research can be compared with the imputs into it if there is no norm other than comparative international performance.     

International indicators of science and technology: How does the U. S. compare?

Because the basic determinants of innovative success are poorly understood, the data in SI-76 cannot support an unambiguous summary assessment of U. S. science. While some nations now rival the U. S. in relative expenditure for R&D, U. S. absolute expenditure still dwarfs that of any nation except the U. S. S. R., and the U. S. remains preeminent by most measures of technological capacity. However, the technology gap continues to narrow, bringing both costs and benefits to the U. S. Advances abroad threaten the U. S. position in some markets and exacerbate the nation's trade adjustment problems. But the nation may also benefit substantially from new opportunities to import as well as export advanced technology.Some of the material in this paper is adapted from R. McCULLOCH,Research and Development as a Determinant of U. S. International Competitiveness, National Planning Association, Washington, D. C., 1978.     

Comparative indicators of interdisciplinarity in modern science

A set of scientometric indicators of interdisciplinary links between advancing fields of biomedicine is suggested. Twenty jounals listed in theJCR of theSCI for 1988 are analyzed. An index of interdisciplinarity for a given journal is calculated as the sum of ratios between the numbers of journals from all other disciplines (except for general-scientific and miscellaneous journals) and from the same discipline cited by that journal or citing it, and of ratios between the numbers of citations to and by these journals. Some interdisciplinary patterns of 20 andrology journal articles are scientometrically assessed, too. The combined usage of this method with co-classification and co-citation methodology can optimize interdisciplinarity evaluation and promotion.     

Constructing vision-driven indicators to enhance the interaction between science and society

Scientometrics - In this fast-paced modern world, science, technology, and innovation (STI) are key drivers that impact all areas of life at individual and organisational levels, deepening the...     

The prediction of science indicators using information theory

The study discusses the application of various forms of time series analysis to national performance data for EEC countries and the US. First, it is shown that at the aggregated level, a straightforward relation exists between output and input, which varies with time. Various analytical techniques to account for the time factor are discussed. By using information theory, a simple formula can be derived which gives the best prediction for the following year's data. Subsequently, this model is extended to multi-variate forecasting of distributions. Additionally, it can be shown by using this method that in terms of percentage of world share of publications the hypothesis that the EEC develops as a single publication system has to be rejected. However, when co-authorship relations among EEC member countries are used as an indicator, the predominance of a system is suggested.