Citation in science and approaches to the evaluation of scientific contributions
Research Article
How to Cite
Kara-Murza S.G. Citation in science and approaches to the evaluation of scientific contributions. Science. Culture. Society. 2021. Vol. 27. No. 4. P. 132-141. DOI: https://doi.org/10.19181/nko.2021.27.4.11 (in Russ.).
Abstract
The editorial board brings to your attention a reprint of the article by S. G. Kara-Murza, published in 1981. The author personally met and debated with the creator of the Science Citation Index Eugene Garfield: recognizing the importance of bibliometry for science studies, Sergey Georgievich defends the inadmissibility of using citation indexes to evaluate the scientific contribution of individual researchers and scientific organizations. It would require the fulfillment of a number of unrealizable conditions in practice so that the citation could not distort the scientific contribution.
After four decades since the publication of the article, it must be recognized that the relevance of the problem has not exhausted itself. Measuring the effectiveness of scientists by formal quantitative parameters has taken root to the status of official for scientific reports, aggravated by the prioritization of journal articles in comparison with fundamental monographic works. Arguments have repeatedly been heard in the scientific community explaining the problematic nature of objective indicators for assessing the productivity and scientific significance and scientific potential of scientists, especially in the field of socio-humanitarian knowledge.
The discussion on the introduction of quantitative methods for evaluating the effectiveness of scientists' work continues. In this regard, the editorial board of the journal considers it appropriate to invite our readers to familiarize themselves with the point of view set forth in the publication of the famous scientist S. G. Kara-Murza 40 years ago.
Keywords:
scientometrics, citation index, science evaluation, Science Citation Index
References
1. Kara-Murza S. G. (1981) Citation in science and approaches to the evaluation of scientific contributions. Vestnik AN SSSR [Bulletin of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR]. Vol. 51, No. 5. Pp. 68-75 (in Russ.).
2. Garfield E. (1963) Citation Indexes in Sociological and Historical Research. American documentation. Vol. 14(4). Pp. 289-291. DOI: 10.1002/asi.5090140405 (in Eng.).
3. Cole J. R., Cole S. (1972) The Ortega hypothesis: Citation Analysis suggest that only a few scientists contribute to scientific progress. Science. Vol. 178, No. 4059. Pp. 368-375. DOI: 10.1126/science.178.4059.368 (in Eng.).
4. Milton H. (1972) Cost-of-Research Index. 1920-1970. Operations Research. Vol. 20, No. 1. Pp. 1-18. DOI: 10.1287/opre.20.1.1 (in Eng.).
5. Mirskaya E. Z. (1979) Mechanism of assessment and formation of new knowledge. Voprosy Filosofii. No. 5. Pp. 119-130 (in Russ.).
6. Khinshelvud S. N. (1971) Qualitative and quantitative. In : Filosofskie problemy sovremennoi khimii [Philosophical problems of modern chemistry]: sbornik perevodov. Ed. by Yu. I. Solov'ev, N. I. Rodnoi. Transl. by V. V. Shchekin. Moscow : Progress Publ. Pp. 21-32 (in Russ.).
7. Kruskal W. (1978) Taking data seriously. In : Toward a metric of science: the advent of science indicators. New York [et al.] : Wiley-Interscience Publ. Pp. 139-170 (in Eng.).
8. Garfield E. (1977) Highly cited articles. 39. Biochemistry. Current Contents. Vol. 9, No. 25. Pp. 5-12 (in Eng.).
9. Garfield E. (1977) Highly cited articles. 40. Biomedical and behavior papers published in the 50's. Current Contents. Vol. 9, No. 29. Pp. 5-12 (in Eng.).
10. Citation classics. Current Contents. 1977. Vol. 9, No. 1 (in Eng.).
11. Citation classics. Current Contents. 1977. Vol. 9, No. 26 (in Eng.).
12. Kara-Murza S. G. (1980) The creation and dissemination of new research technology is an important function of a scientist. Vestnik AN SSSR [Bulletin of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR]. No. 4. Pp. 54-61 (in Russ.).
13. Kara-Murza S. G. (1979) Technology of scientific research. Exploring the creation and dissemination of affinity chromatography using the Science Citation Index. Nauchno-tekhnicheskaya informatsiya. Ser. 1. No. 1. Pp. 7-12 (in Russ.).
14. Moles A. (1973) Sociodynamique de la culture : Transl. from French. Ed. by B. V. Biryukov [et al.]. Moscow : Progress Publ. 405 p. (In Russ.).
15. Garfield E. (1977) To cite or not to cite: a note of annoyance. Current Contents. Vol. 9, No. 35. Pp. 5-8 (in Eng.).
16. Garfield E. (1979) Is citation analysis a legitimate evaluation tool? Scientometrics. Vol. 1, No. 4. Pp. 359-376 (in Eng.).
2. Garfield E. (1963) Citation Indexes in Sociological and Historical Research. American documentation. Vol. 14(4). Pp. 289-291. DOI: 10.1002/asi.5090140405 (in Eng.).
3. Cole J. R., Cole S. (1972) The Ortega hypothesis: Citation Analysis suggest that only a few scientists contribute to scientific progress. Science. Vol. 178, No. 4059. Pp. 368-375. DOI: 10.1126/science.178.4059.368 (in Eng.).
4. Milton H. (1972) Cost-of-Research Index. 1920-1970. Operations Research. Vol. 20, No. 1. Pp. 1-18. DOI: 10.1287/opre.20.1.1 (in Eng.).
5. Mirskaya E. Z. (1979) Mechanism of assessment and formation of new knowledge. Voprosy Filosofii. No. 5. Pp. 119-130 (in Russ.).
6. Khinshelvud S. N. (1971) Qualitative and quantitative. In : Filosofskie problemy sovremennoi khimii [Philosophical problems of modern chemistry]: sbornik perevodov. Ed. by Yu. I. Solov'ev, N. I. Rodnoi. Transl. by V. V. Shchekin. Moscow : Progress Publ. Pp. 21-32 (in Russ.).
7. Kruskal W. (1978) Taking data seriously. In : Toward a metric of science: the advent of science indicators. New York [et al.] : Wiley-Interscience Publ. Pp. 139-170 (in Eng.).
8. Garfield E. (1977) Highly cited articles. 39. Biochemistry. Current Contents. Vol. 9, No. 25. Pp. 5-12 (in Eng.).
9. Garfield E. (1977) Highly cited articles. 40. Biomedical and behavior papers published in the 50's. Current Contents. Vol. 9, No. 29. Pp. 5-12 (in Eng.).
10. Citation classics. Current Contents. 1977. Vol. 9, No. 1 (in Eng.).
11. Citation classics. Current Contents. 1977. Vol. 9, No. 26 (in Eng.).
12. Kara-Murza S. G. (1980) The creation and dissemination of new research technology is an important function of a scientist. Vestnik AN SSSR [Bulletin of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR]. No. 4. Pp. 54-61 (in Russ.).
13. Kara-Murza S. G. (1979) Technology of scientific research. Exploring the creation and dissemination of affinity chromatography using the Science Citation Index. Nauchno-tekhnicheskaya informatsiya. Ser. 1. No. 1. Pp. 7-12 (in Russ.).
14. Moles A. (1973) Sociodynamique de la culture : Transl. from French. Ed. by B. V. Biryukov [et al.]. Moscow : Progress Publ. 405 p. (In Russ.).
15. Garfield E. (1977) To cite or not to cite: a note of annoyance. Current Contents. Vol. 9, No. 35. Pp. 5-8 (in Eng.).
16. Garfield E. (1979) Is citation analysis a legitimate evaluation tool? Scientometrics. Vol. 1, No. 4. Pp. 359-376 (in Eng.).
Article
Received: 02.11.2021
Accepted: 13.12.2021
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APA
Kara-Murza, S. G. (2021). Citation in science and approaches to the evaluation of scientific contributions. Science. Culture. Society, 27(4), 132-141. https://doi.org/10.19181/nko.2021.27.4.11
Section
Sociology of science and scientific knowledge
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