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Beyond the holy grail: From citation theory to indicator theories

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  • P. Wouters

    (University of Amsterdam)

Abstract

A recurring theme in the use of science and technology indicators, as well as in the construction of new ones, is the interpretation of these indicators. Given the dependence on citation data in the majority of interesting science and technology indicators, a general citation theory would make the meaning of S&T indicators more transparent. Hence the continuing call for a citation theory in scientometrics. So far, such a theory has not yet been accepted by the experts in the field. This paper suggests an explanation for this. It also tries to sketch the outline of a generalindicator theory by discussing new implications of an earlier proposal (Wouters, 1998) in relation to existing citation and indicator theories.

Suggested Citation

  • P. Wouters, 1999. "Beyond the holy grail: From citation theory to indicator theories," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 44(3), pages 561-580, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:44:y:1999:i:3:d:10.1007_bf02458496
    DOI: 10.1007/BF02458496
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Michael H. MacRoberts & Barbara R. MacRoberts, 1989. "Problems of citation analysis: A critical review," Journal of the American Society for Information Science, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 40(5), pages 342-349, September.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Dorte Henriksen, 2016. "The rise in co-authorship in the social sciences (1980–2013)," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 107(2), pages 455-476, May.
    3. Costanza, Robert & Stern, David & Fisher, Brendan & He, Lining & Ma, Chunbo, 2004. "Influential publications in ecological economics: a citation analysis," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(3-4), pages 261-292, October.
    4. Sebastian Hager & Carlo Schwarz & Fabian Waldinger, 2023. "Measuring Science: Performance Metrics and the Allocation of Talent," Rationality and Competition Discussion Paper Series 455, CRC TRR 190 Rationality and Competition.
    5. Lucio-Arias, Diana & Leydesdorff, Loet, 2009. "The dynamics of exchanges and references among scientific texts, and the autopoiesis of discursive knowledge," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 3(3), pages 261-271.
    6. Lawrence Smolinsky & Daniel S. Sage & Aaron J. Lercher & Aaron Cao, 2021. "Citations versus expert opinions: citation analysis of featured reviews of the American Mathematical Society," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(5), pages 3853-3870, May.
    7. Dag W. Aksnes & Liv Langfeldt & Paul Wouters, 2019. "Citations, Citation Indicators, and Research Quality: An Overview of Basic Concepts and Theories," SAGE Open, , vol. 9(1), pages 21582440198, February.

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