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An item-by-item subject classification of papers published in journals covered by the SSCI database using reference analysis

Author

Listed:
  • W. Glänzel

    (Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
    Research Association for Science Communication and Information e. V. (RASCI))

  • A. Schubert

    (Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
    Research Association for Science Communication and Information e. V. (RASCI))

  • U. Schoepflin

    (Research Association for Science Communication and Information e. V. (RASCI)
    Max Planck Institute for the History of Science)

  • H. J. Czerwon

    (Research Association for Science Communication and Information e. V. (RASCI))

Abstract

A serious shortcoming of bibliometric studies based on theSocial Sciences Citation Index is the lack of a universally applicable subject classification scheme as individual papers are concerned. Moreover, the selective coverage of more than thousand scientific journals per annum proved to be an insuperable obstacle in the delimitation of social science subject areas. Subject classification of papers on the basis of assigning journals to subject categories (like those found in the various supplements of ISI databases) works well in case of fully covered and highly specialised journals in the social sciences, too, but fails for multidisciplinary and selectively covered journals. This study presents the results of an item-by-item subject classification approach, where assignment is based on the analysis of the subject categories of reference literature. This analysis extends the results of an earlier study by the authors on the possibility of delimiting subfields in the hard and life sciences based on reference analysis. The assignment proved also reliable for a considerable share of literature in the social sciences. Due to the peculiarities of the database this share is lower in the SSCI than that in the SCI. Although an iterated application of the procedure is expected to increase the number of classifiable publications, it is suggested that in the sociated sciences the method should be used in combination with other means of subject assignment.

Suggested Citation

  • W. Glänzel & A. Schubert & U. Schoepflin & H. J. Czerwon, 1999. "An item-by-item subject classification of papers published in journals covered by the SSCI database using reference analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 46(3), pages 431-441, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:46:y:1999:i:3:d:10.1007_bf02459602
    DOI: 10.1007/BF02459602
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    1. W. Glänzel & A. Schubert & H. -J. Czerwon, 1999. "An item-by-item subject classification of papers published in multidisciplinary and general journals using reference analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 44(3), pages 427-439, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Wang, Qi & Waltman, Ludo, 2016. "Large-scale analysis of the accuracy of the journal classification systems of Web of Science and Scopus," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 10(2), pages 347-364.
    2. Xiaoyu Cai & Tao Han, 2020. "Analysis of the division of labor in China’s high-quality life sciences research," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 125(2), pages 1077-1094, November.
    3. Yinian Gu, 2004. "Global knowledge management research: A bibliometric analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 61(2), pages 171-190, October.
    4. Christoph Neuhaus & Hans-Dieter Daniel, 2009. "A new reference standard for citation analysis in chemistry and related fields based on the sections of Chemical Abstracts," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 78(2), pages 219-229, February.
    5. E. C. M. Noyons & H. F. Moed & A. F. J. Raan, 1999. "Integrating research performance analysis and science mapping," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 46(3), pages 591-604, November.
    6. Bo Jarneving, 2010. "Regional research and foreign collaboration," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 83(1), pages 295-320, April.
    7. Diana Hicks, 2005. "The Four Literatures Of Social Sciences," IBT Journal of Business Studies (JBS), Ilma University, Faculty of Management Science, vol. 1(1), pages 1-1.
    8. Asna Ashari, Parsa & Blind, Knut & Koch, Claudia, 2023. "Knowledge and technology transfer via publications, patents, standards: Exploring the hydrogen technological innovation system," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
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    11. Antonio J. Gómez-Núñez & Benjamín Vargas-Quesada & Félix Moya-Anegón & Wolfgang Glänzel, 2011. "Improving SCImago Journal & Country Rank (SJR) subject classification through reference analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 89(3), pages 741-758, December.
    12. Jesús M. Álvarez-Llorente & Vicente P. Guerrero-Bote & Félix Moya-Anegón, 2024. "New fractional classifications of papers based on two generations of references and on the ASJC scopus scheme," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 129(6), pages 3493-3515, June.
    13. Sjögårde, Peter & Ahlgren, Per, 2018. "Granularity of algorithmically constructed publication-level classifications of research publications: Identification of topics," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 12(1), pages 133-152.
    14. Diana Hicks, 2005. "The Four Literatures Of Social Sciences," IBT Journal of Business Studies (JBS), Ilma University, Faculty of Management Science, vol. 1(1), pages 1-20.
    15. Dorothea Jansen & Regina Görtz & Richard Heidler, 2010. "Knowledge production and the structure of collaboration networks in two scientific fields," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 83(1), pages 219-241, April.
    16. Jielan Ding & Per Ahlgren & Liying Yang & Ting Yue, 2018. "Disciplinary structures in Nature, Science and PNAS: journal and country levels," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 116(3), pages 1817-1852, September.
    17. Wolfgang Glänzel & András Schubert, 2003. "A new classification scheme of science fields and subfields designed for scientometric evaluation purposes," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 56(3), pages 357-367, March.
    18. Júlio Cesar Rodrigues Pereira & André Luiz Fischer & Maria Mercedes Loureiro Escuder, 2000. "Driving Factors of High Performance in Brazilian Management Sciences for the 1981–1995 Period," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 49(2), pages 307-319, October.
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    22. Colliander, Cristian & Ahlgren, Per, 2011. "The effects and their stability of field normalization baseline on relative performance with respect to citation impact: A case study of 20 natural science departments," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 5(1), pages 101-113.

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