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Aggregation properties of relative impact and other classical indicators: Convexity issues and the Yule-Simpson paradox

Author

Listed:
  • Suzy Ramanana-Rahary

    (Observatoire des Sciences et des Techniques (OST))

  • Michel Zitt

    (Observatoire des Sciences et des Techniques (OST)
    INRA-Lereco)

  • Ronald Rousseau

    (KHBO — Industrial Sciences and Technology
    K.U. Leuven)

Abstract

Among classical bibliometric indicators, direct and relative impact measures for countries or other players in science are appealing and standard. Yet, as shown in this article, they may exhibit undesirable statistical properties, or at least ones that pose questions of interpretation in evaluation and benchmarking contexts. In this article, we address two such properties namely sensitivity to the Yule-Simpson effect, and a problem related to convexity. The Yule-Simpson effect can occur for direct impacts and, in a variant form, for relative impact, causing an apparent incoherence between field values and the aggregate (all-fields) value. For relative impacts, it may result in a severe form of ‘out-range’ of aggregate values, where a player’s relative impact shifts from ‘good’ to ‘bad’, or conversely. Out-range and lack of convexity in general are typical of relative impact indicators. Using empirical data, we suggest that, for relative impact measures, ‘out-range’ due to lack of convexity is not exceptional. The Yule-Simpson effect is less frequent, and especially occurs for small players with particular specialisation profiles.

Suggested Citation

  • Suzy Ramanana-Rahary & Michel Zitt & Ronald Rousseau, 2009. "Aggregation properties of relative impact and other classical indicators: Convexity issues and the Yule-Simpson paradox," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 79(2), pages 311-327, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:79:y:2009:i:2:d:10.1007_s11192-009-0420-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-009-0420-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Michel Zitt & Suzy Ramanana-Rahary & Elise Bassecoulard, 2003. "Correcting glasses help fair comparisons in international science landscape: Country indicators as a function of ISI database delineation," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 56(2), pages 259-282, February.
    2. Michel Zitt & Elise Bassecoulard & Yoshiko Okubo, 2000. "Shadows of the Past in International Cooperation: Collaboration Profiles of the Top Five Producers of Science," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 47(3), pages 627-657, March.
    3. Poovanalingam Murugesan & Michael J. Moravcsik, 1978. "Variation of the nature of citation measures with journals and scientific specialties," Journal of the American Society for Information Science, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 29(3), pages 141-147, May.
    4. Péter Vinkler, 2003. "Relations of relative scientometric indicators," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 58(3), pages 687-694, November.
    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. Hariolf Grupp, 1998. "Foundations of the Economics of Innovation," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 1390.
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    Cited by:

    1. Rousseau, Ronald & Yang, Liying, 2012. "Reflections on the activity index and related indicators," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 6(3), pages 413-421.
    2. Michel Zitt, 2012. "The journal impact factor: angel, devil, or scapegoat? A comment on J.K. Vanclay’s article 2011," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 92(2), pages 485-503, August.
    3. M. Zitt, 2011. "Behind citing-side normalization of citations: some properties of the journal impact factor," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 89(1), pages 329-344, October.
    4. Zhiqi Wang & Ronald Rousseau, 2021. "COVID-19, the Yule-Simpson paradox and research evaluation," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(4), pages 3501-3511, April.

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