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Subfield-specific normalized relative indicators and a new generation of relational charts: Methodological foundations illustrated on the assessment of institutional research performance

Author

Listed:
  • Wolfgang Glänzel

    (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
    Hungarian Academy of Sciences)

  • Bart Thijs

    (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven)

  • András Schubert

    (Hungarian Academy of Sciences)

  • Koenraad Debackere

    (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven)

Abstract

A common problem in comparative bibliometric studies at the meso and micro level is the differentiation and specialisation of research profiles of the objects of analysis at lower levels of aggregation. Already the institutional level requires the application of more sophisticated techniques than customary in evaluation of national research performance. In this study institutional profile clusters are used to examine which level of the hierarchical subject-classification should preferably be used to build subject-normalised citation indicators. It is shown that a set of properly normalised indicators can serve as a basis of comparative assessment within and even among different clusters, provided that their profiles still overlap and such comparison is thus meaningful. On the basis of 24 selected European universities, a new version of relational charts is presented for the comparative assessment of citation impact.

Suggested Citation

  • Wolfgang Glänzel & Bart Thijs & András Schubert & Koenraad Debackere, 2009. "Subfield-specific normalized relative indicators and a new generation of relational charts: Methodological foundations illustrated on the assessment of institutional research performance," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 78(1), pages 165-188, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:78:y:2009:i:1:d:10.1007_s11192-008-2109-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-008-2109-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bart Thijs & Wolfgang Glänzela, 2009. "A structural analysis of benchmarks on different bibliometrical indicators for European research institutes based on their research profile," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 79(2), pages 377-388, May.
    2. Derek De Solla Price, 1976. "A general theory of bibliometric and other cumulative advantage processes," Journal of the American Society for Information Science, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 27(5), pages 292-306, September.
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    4. Bart Thijs & Wolfgang Glänzel, 2008. "A structural analysis of publication profiles for the classification of European research institutes," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 74(2), pages 223-236, February.
    5. Michel Zitt & Suzy Ramanana-Rahary & Elise Bassecoulard, 2005. "Relativity of citation performance and excellence measures: From cross-field to cross-scale effects of field-normalisation," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 63(2), pages 373-401, April.
    6. Schubert, András & Glänzel, Wolfgang, 2007. "A systematic analysis of Hirsch-type indices for journals," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 1(3), pages 179-184.
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