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An Essay on Informetrics: a Study on Growth and Development

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An Essay on Informetrics: a Study on Growth and Development Annals of Library Science and Documentation 1986, 33(1-2), 1-12 AN ESSAY ON INFORMETRICS: A STUDY ON GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT T.N. RAJAN B.K. SEN INSDOC New Delhi 110067 Examines the scope of 'informetrics' in relation applying statistical methods and called it 'sta- to metric studies of infonnation and publica- tistical analysis' [2]. Hulme used the term tions such as bibliometrics, scientornetrics and 'statistical bibliography' in 1923 for such lib ram etries. Suggests a comprehensive defi- studies [3]. Ranganathan used the term 'Iibra- nition of informetrics to cover all aspects of metric studies' [4]; he implied the measure- study given in definitions of other writers, ment of various library activities and services particularly Morales. Gives a brief account of using mathematical and statistical techniques. the growth of literature in informetrics. Surveys Pritchard coined the term 'bibliometrics' measurement techniques in a number of areas to denote a new discipline where quantitative such as growth of literature, efficiency scale methods were employed to probe scientific for a) document supply, b) translations, c) communication processes by measuring and bibliographies, d) SDI services, e) information analysing various aspects of written docu- products and services. Mentions the usefulness ments [5]. The term 'bibliometrics' has found of information in decision making. wide acceptance.Diverse interpretation of the term have been put forward by some authors [6]. Schinidmeir defined it as the application of Man invented methods of measurement perhaps mathematical methods to bibliographical, infor- at the very dawn of civilisation to meet his mation and library activities [7]. Kerius [8], day-to-day needs. In the beginning, measure- Lawani [9], Hjerppe [10] also tried to show ment was related mainly to length, breadth, relationship of bibliometrics with library and weight, and volume. With the progress of civilisa- information science and in certain cases with tion, man understood the concept of time, and science of science. We shall also discuss about invented devices to measure it. As science pro- th~ definition and scope of bibliometrics later gressed, need arose to measure innumerable in the article. physical phenomena like heat, light, electricity, In 1979 Nacke for the first time, defined and so on. Devices were invented and standards informetrics as 'the application of mathematical of measurement were determined for all. methods to the investigation of information For a long time measurement was the field science objects, with the aim of describing and of study mainly of physical scientists and mathe- analysing their properties and laws in order maticians. Gradually, it started spreading to to optimise these objects in decision making other areas. Slowly various measurement [11] . This definition is inadequate, as the defini- methods sprawled to social sciences as well, tion . considers only the investigation of 'in- and subjects like econometrics and sociometries formation science objects' and not information developed. science activities and information itself. Accor- The studies on 'informetrics' started way ding to the definition, informetrics aims to des- back in 1896, when F Campbell advanced the cribe and analyse properties and laws of infor- idea for the first time of the scattering of mation science objects. information [1]. However, he did not coin any It needs to be pointed out here that infer- term for such studies. Cole and Eaeles in their metrics not only describes and analyses the publication on the history of comparative properties and laws of information science anatomy analysed the literature on the subject objects, but also establishes laws employing Vol 33 Nos 1-2 March-] une 1986 j RAJAN & SEN mathematical and statistical methods relating products. It is not necessary that all laws per- to the growth, propagation, use 'and decay of taining to a fie1-{ of knowledge should be equally information. Morales defines informetrics 'as applicable to all its branches. Some laws will the metric discipline concerned with the study be applicable to all its bi .mches and some will of mathematical and statistical r:\lethods and have restricted applications. We can take the models and their application to che quanti- examples from biology. Here some laws are tative analysis of the structure and properties equally applicable to both plant and animal of scientific information and the patterns and sciences, and some are applicable only to plant laws of scientific communication processes sciences or animal sciences. For, the growth of including identification of the laws' proper' animal body takes place according to a fixed f12] . pattern which is not the case with plant bodies. According to Morales, informetrics is Animals always inhale oxygen and exhale concerned with the study of mathematical and carbon-di-oxide, but the plants do the same at statistical methods and models and hence is night, reverse during the day. Nevertheless, an integral part of mathematics. However, both plants and animals are covered by biology. we feel that informetrics should be concerned Hence informetrics also should cover scientific mainly with the application of mathematical as well as non-scientific information. and statistical methods and models to measure From the foregoing discussion, it is dear the diverse aspects of any subject/discipline. that both the definitions suffer from certain Indeed in the application of these methods and limitations. We are trying to put forward ano- models to various subjects, a knowledge of the ther definition covering all aspects of inforrne- subject is a prerequisite or required at an equal tries, We, however, do not claim that our defini- measure with the methods of application. tion is absolutely free from limitations. We Specific courses on mathematical methods have only tried to, remove obvious limitations and models would be forming part of a course and to make the definition comprehensive. of study on informetrics when inforrnetrics We intend to define informetrics as that branch is fully developed as an independent discipline. of knowledge which employs mathematical The next point in Morales' definition is and statistical techniques to measure publica- the analysis of the structure and properties of tions and concepts, their growth, propagation, scientific information using mathematical use and decay of information; establish laws and statistical methods and models. Now, governing these factors, and study the effi- the question arises should we only analyse the ciency of information systems, services and structure and properties of information without products, as well as explore the intra - and any objective? If not, then what is the objective? interrelationship of disciplines. The main objec- The objective is missing in the definition. More- tive in metric studies of information (concepts over, Morales considers only scientific informa: and documents) are to provide processed data tion * in his definition. Some laws like the law ot leading to reliable indicators for a) research scattering of publications and law of obso- and development in all disciplines, b) policy lencence of publication are based on scientific making and planning, and c) management of publications. If these laws are exte~~ed to n~)ll- institutions, projects, programmes and acti- scientific publications (e.g. humanities publica- vities. tions) they may fail. But, laws relating to the Now, let us examine this definition keeping propagation of information may be equally in view the eleven aspects of informetrics applicable to non-scientific publications as they enumerated by Morales. The eleven aspects are applicable to scientific publications. The enumerated by Morales are:- way the efficiency of scientific information systems, services and products can be studied, "i) quantitative growth of literature the same methods can be employed for non- ii) information obsolescence and scat- scientific information systems, services and tering -;' , iii) efficiency of information products *Scientifie information here is construed as= and services in science, technology information relating to science in the conven- and production tional meaning of science, as is understood in iv) efficiency of information systems and most u/estern countries, information establishments in general Ann Lib Sci f)(" ESSAY ON INFORMETRICS v) the role of different kinds of docu- i) documents used by the citer and ments as means of scientific communi- ii) documents may be used by others cation vi) the role of information channel in Citation analysis (aspect x) is a method scientific communication employed in informetrics for determining vii) information relevance and pertinence the propagation, use, decay etc. of information. viii) ranking of periodicals and serials Determination of intra- and interdisciplinary by various parameters relations has also been covered in our defini- ix) overlapping of subject contents bet- tion. ween periodicals and serials Moralesj l Z] considers informetrics as a x) citation habits of scientists and the scientific in:formation aCtiVlty. Some laws growing role of citation analysis like the law of scattering of publications and xi) intradisciplinary and interdisciplinary laws of obsolescence of publications are based relation as determined on the basis on scientific .publications. If these laws are of bibliographical reference."[ 12) extended to .non-scientific publications (e.g. humanities publications) they may fail.
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