The use of bibliometric indicators in the study of insecticide research

This paper reports part of a historical study of insecticide development. We analysed accumulated references to specific insecticide groups in text books, and index references to a large number of specific insecticides in theReview of Applied Entomology (Ser. A) over the period 1916–70. The paper describes our techniques for analysing the resulting research publication growth curves for these compounds. Our data did not fit the classical S-curves, and possible explanations for this are discussed. Bibliometric time series data may exhibit various inconsistencies, and we describe an approach to handling such dirty data. We concluded that; our quantitative approach produces a picture of the development of insecticides that fits the accepted view derived by qualitative historiography, is very sensitive to trends in pesticide research, and might be a useful adjunct to technology forecasting as well as to historical studies.     

The use of an algorithmic approach for the assessment of research quality

Recent years have seen a growing interest in the use of quantitative parameters for assessing the quality of research carried out at universities. In the UK, university departments are now subject to regular investigations of their research standing. As part of these investigations, a considerable amount of quantitative (as well as qualitative) information is collected from each department. This is made available to the panels appointed to assess research quality in each subject area. One question that has been raised is whether the data can be combined in some way to provide an index which can help guide the panels' deliberations. This question is looked at here via a detailed examination of the returns from four universities for the most recent (1992) research assessment exercise. The results suggest that attempts to derive an algorithm are only likely to be helpful for a limited range of subjects.     

Review of temperature indicators and the use of duplex stainless steels for life assessment

This paper presents an overview of the recent development of life assessment techniques for high temperature plants, with special emphasis on a novel temperature-measuring technique, i.e. the ‘Feroplug’.Improved life assessment techniques will enable components to be replaced before failure, so reducing the risk of industrial accidents, as well as minimizing financial loss caused by unscheduled outages. The Feroplug is a new invention and has been patented by the US, UK and European patent bodies, with financial and legal support provided by the British Technology Group. It has been developed to supplement conventional temperature-measuring methods, such as the thermocouple, in extremely hostile environments, to provide information on the operating temperature, which is a major concern for life assessment. The principle of the Feroplug, which consists of piece of duplex (austenite + ferrite) stainless steel with specially designed composition, is based on the transformation of ferrite in the material on heating in the range 300–1000 °C. The extent of the transformation, being an indication of the temperature to which the Feroplug has been exposed, can be easily monitored using magnetic measurement techniques. The characteristics of the ferrite transformation are affected—in addition to the ageing temperature—by many metallurgical parameters, such as the composition of the alloy, thermomechanical pretreatments, etc. The recent progress of research in ferrite transformation is also reviewed in detail to provide the ground for understanding the principles of the Feroplug.     

The use of adaptation to reduce simulator sickness in driving assessment and research

The technical advancement of driving simulators has decreased their cost and increased both their accuracy and fidelity. This makes them a useful tool for examining driving behavior in risky or unique situations. With the approaching increase of older licensed drivers due to aging of the baby boomers, driving simulators will be important for conducting driving research and evaluations for older adults. With these simulator technologies, some people may experience significant effects of a unique form of motion sickness, known as simulator sickness. These effects may be more pronounced in older adults. The present study examined the feasibility of an intervention to attenuate symptoms of simulator sickness in drivers participating in a study of a driving evaluation protocol. Prior to beginning the experiment, the experimental groups did not differ in subjective simulator sickness scores as indicated by Revised Simulator Sickness Questionnaire scores (all p > 0.5). Participants who experienced a two-day delay between an initial acclimation to the driving simulator and the driving session experienced fewer simulator sickness symptoms as indicated by RSSQ total severity scores than participants who did not receive a two-day delay (F(1,88) = 4.54, p = .036, partial η² = .049). These findings have implications for improving client well-being and potentially increasing acceptance of driving simulation for driving evaluations and for driving safety research.     

Comparison of citation and usage indicators in research assessment in scientific disciplines and journals

Scientometrics - Proceeding from the results of an earlier pilot study usage and citation impact data from the 2013 annual volume of the Web of Science Core Collection were collected and...     

The use of multiple databases in the assesment of research. An application in the field of plant science

This paper argues the convenience of considering multiple databases in order to obtain a reliable set of scientific indicators in case of fields that includes a variety of disciplines. With this aim we analyse the Spanish scientific output in Plant Sciences regarding mainstream literature covered by SCI database and that published in domestic journals covered by ICYT database. This method allows us to obtain two different profiles of research. These results clearly underly the need to consider these databases jointly, thus avoiding potential inaccuracies induced by the use of the SCI as the only information source to be considered for the assessment of research.     

The impact of basic research in the social sciences: The case of education

Recent expert evaluations of the condition and funding of educational research in the USA assume that basic research in the social sciences is a crucial factor in increasing our understanding and ultimately improving the practice of education (see, for example, the 1977 report¹ of the National Academy of Sciences' Committee on Fundamental Research Relevant to Education). Past tests of this assumption, however, have generally relied upon argument by example or anecdote. In the present study, we analyze citation patterns in the education literature to test the corollary proposition that basic research in the social sciences has had a substantial impact on the literature in education. Empirical data collected on citation patterns in the education literature are found to be largely consistent with this proposition.     

The implicit preference of bibliometrics for basic research

Scientometrics - By individually associating articles to basic or applied research, it is shown that basic articles are cited more frequently than applied ones. Dividing the subject categories of...     

Indicators of basic research in the physical sciences

Information on basic research in the physical sciences is not readily available inScience Indicators — 1976, but it can be synthesized from many chapters of the report. The indicators show that there has been a greater decline in real support by the federal government for the physical sciences than for engineering, the social sciences, or the life sciences. Additional information is needed on the response to this reduction in funding. The author concludes by calling for an accounting of the costs and benefits to basic research of reduced funding and suggests items which should be included in such an accounting.     

The use of constraint-modified failure assessment lines in failure assessment diagrams

Two possible methods of including the effect of constraint in a failure assessment diagram (FAD) of the R6 type are to change the definition of the quantity K_r(the ratio of the operative crack driving force to the current material toughness) or to modify the failure assessment line (FAL). An analysis of the relation between the treatment of ductile tearing using the FAD and the R-curve diagram, extended recently to include constraint effects in modified diagrams of the first type is shown here also to hold for the second. Provided that the projected growth path image (PGPI) is used to specify the motion of the assessment point during crack growth there is a complete correspondence of R-curve analysis with either type of FAD. The two methods, both formulated for any number of generic constraint parameters, are compared using a simple illustrative example in which the constraint is parametrized by T. The methods previously discussed for testing the consistency or conservatism of an engineering FAD can be extended to both types of generalized diagram which allow for crack tip constraint.     

The use of indicators in the R & D evaluation activity of the European communities

The goals of the evaluation of the R & D programmes of the Commission of the European Communities is to assess, beside scientific and technical achievements, the added value due to the implementation of these activities at European level. This requires the development of techniques different from those normally used for the measurement of scientific output. In particular a number of indicators have been developed to assess international cooperation promoted by EC programmes and the resulting economic and industrial impact.     

Advantages and limitations in the use of impact factor measures for the assessment of research performance

Impact factor is a quasi-qualitative indicator, which provides a measurement of the prestige and international visibility of journals. Although the use of impact factor-based indicators for science policy purposes has increased over the last two decades, several limitations have been pointed out and should be borne in mind. The use of impact factor should be treated carefully when applied to the analysis of peripheral countries, whose national journals are hardly covered by ISI databases. Our experience in the use of impact factor based indicators for the analysis of the Spanish scientific production is shown. The usefulness of the impact factor measures in macro, meso and micro analyses is displayed. In addition, the main advantages, such as the great accessibility of impact factor and its ready-to-use nature are pointed out. Several limitations such as the need to avoid inter-field comparisons or the convenience of using a fixed journal set for international comparisons are also stressed. It is worth noting that the use of impact factor in the research evaluation process has influenced strongly the publication strategy of scientists. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Efficiency evaluation of basic research in China

Summary Following the increasing investment on basic research in China, the outputs of basic research have been greatly enhanced. In this paper, the relative efficiency of investments in basic research is analyzed by adopting statistical regressions and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method. Preliminary results show that injected investment seems to be the main driving force for the increased basic research outputs in China. It is found that there were significant improvements on overall efficiency from 1991 to 1996, although this trend has noticeably slowed down since 1996. Possible causes of this slow-down are discussed.     

Fatigue and fracture basic research at the langley research center

This paper gives some examples of projects underway. The projects are grouped according to the primary parameter being studied: loads, configuration, environment, or material. Significant topics include the effect of truncated loads, the effect of proof-tests, interference fasteners, accelerated and real-time tests for supersonic aircraft materials, crack-growth rates in built-up structures, and a model method by which material can be selected for a particular set of operating conditions.     

The use of the exponential tempering function in multiple order desorption analysis

Analysis is presented of desorption rate-temperature profiles under multiple order reaction kinetics processes and with application of the exponential tempering schedule defined by the equation $\text{dT}\text{dt}\text{= r}{}_1\text{T}$. Three methods of determining the kinetic parameters for discrete activation energy for desorption situations are discussed and the application of the technique for evaluation of population distribution in continuously distributed activation energy situations is outlined.     

New bibliometric tools for the assessment of national research performance: Database description,overview of indicators and first applications

This paper gives an outline of a new bibliometric database based upon all articles published by authors from the Netherlands, and processed during the time period 1980–1993 by the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) for theScience Citation Index (SCI),Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) andArts & Humanities Citation Index (A&HCI). The paper describes various types of information added to the database: data on articles citing the Dutch publications; detailed citation data on ISI journals and subfields; and a classification system of publishing main organizations, appearing in the addresses. Moreover, an overview is given of the types of bibliometric indicators that were constructed. Their relationship to indicators developed by other researchers in the field is discussed. Finally, two applications are given in order to illustrate the potentials of the database and of the bibliometric indicators derived from it. The first represents a synthesis of ‘classical’ macro indicator studies at the one hand, and bibliometric analyses of research groups or institutes at the other. The second application gives for the first time a detailed analysis of a country's publication output per institutional sector.     

The politics of strategic environmental assessment indicators: weak recognition found in Chinese guidelines

The choice and use of indicators is not only technical and science-led, but also a value-laden social process, and thus concerns public participation and political judgement. This article approaches the Chinese strategic environmental assessment (SEA) indicator system from a science–policy interface perspective and aims to: (1) contribute to the general recognition of indicators functioning in SEA; and (2) analyse, through a Chinese case study, to what extent national guidelines address this science–policy interaction. The overall finding is a strong emphasis on technical/science aspects in the Chinese SEA guidance, and a weak explicit recognition that policy plays a role in choosing and using indicators. Recent development, however, indicates a growing recognition of the politics involved and thus also leads to greater involvement of stakeholders.