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On the analogy between the evolution of thermodynamic and bibliometric systems: a breakthrough or just a bubble?

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  • Fiorenzo Franceschini

    (DISPEA (Department of Production Systems and Business Economics))

  • Domenico Maisano

    (DISPEA (Department of Production Systems and Business Economics))

Abstract

This paper presents an in depth study of an interesting analogy, recently proposed by Prathap (Scientometrics 87(3):515–524, 2011a), between the evolution of thermodynamic and bibliometric systems. The goal is to highlight some weaknesses and clarify some “dark sides” in the conceptual framework of this analogy, discussing the formal validity and practical meaning of the concepts of Energy, Exergy and Entropy in bibliometrics. Specifically, this analogy highlights the following major criticalities: (1) the definitions of E and X are controversial, (2) the equivalence classes of E and X are questionable, (3) the parallel between the evolution of thermodynamic and bibliometric systems is forced, (4) X is a non-monotonic performance indicator, and (5) in bibliometrics the condition of “thermodynamic perfection” is questionable. Argument is supported by many analytical demonstrations and practical examples.

Suggested Citation

  • Fiorenzo Franceschini & Domenico Maisano, 2011. "On the analogy between the evolution of thermodynamic and bibliometric systems: a breakthrough or just a bubble?," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 89(1), pages 315-327, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:89:y:2011:i:1:d:10.1007_s11192-011-0444-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-011-0444-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Franceschini, Fiorenzo & Maisano, Domenico A., 2010. "Analysis of the Hirsch index's operational properties," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 203(2), pages 494-504, June.
    2. Gangan Prathap, 2010. "Is there a place for a mock h-index?," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 84(1), pages 153-165, July.
    3. Fiorenzo Franceschini & Maurizio Galetto & Domenico Maisano, 2007. "Management by Measurement," Springer Books, Springer, number 978-3-540-73212-9, December.
    4. Lutz Bornmann & Rüdiger Mutz & Hans‐Dieter Daniel, 2008. "Are there better indices for evaluation purposes than the h index? A comparison of nine different variants of the h index using data from biomedicine," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 59(5), pages 830-837, March.
    5. Monika Henzinger & Jacob Suñol & Ingmar Weber, 2010. "The stability of the h-index," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 84(2), pages 465-479, August.
    6. Gangan Prathap, 2011. "The Energy–Exergy–Entropy (or EEE) sequences in bibliometric assessment," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 87(3), pages 515-524, June.
    7. Gangan Prathap, 2011. "A thermodynamic explanation for the Glänzel–Schubert model for the h-index," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 62(5), pages 992-994, May.
    8. Fiorenzo Franceschini & Domenico Maisano, 2011. "Bibliometric positioning of scientific manufacturing journals: a comparative analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 86(2), pages 463-485, February.
    9. Fred Y. Ye, 2011. "A unification of three models for the h-index," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 62(1), pages 205-207, January.
    10. Woeginger, Gerhard J., 2008. "An axiomatic characterization of the Hirsch-index," Mathematical Social Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 56(2), pages 224-232, September.
    11. 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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