Abstract
Earlier experiments in the use of co-citations to cluster theScience citation Indey (SCI) database are reviewed. Two proposed improvements in the methodology are introduced: fractional citation counting and variable level clustering with a maximum cluster size limit. Results of an experiment using the 1979SCI are described comparing the new methods with those previously employed. It is found that fractional citation counting helps reduce the bias toward high referencing fields such as biomedicine and biochemistry inherent in the use of an integer citation count threshold, and increases the range of subject matters covered by clusters. Variable level clustering, on the other hand, increases recall as measured by the percentage of highly cited items included in clusters. It is concluded that the two new methods used in combination will improve our ability to generate comprehensive maps of science as envisioned byDerek Price. This topic will be discussed in a forthcoming paper.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
E. GARFIELD,ISI Atlas of Science: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Philadelphia, Institute for Scientific Information, 1981.
H. G. SMALL, B. C. GRIFFITH, The Structure of Scientific Literatures I: Identifying and Graphing Specialties,Science Studies 4 (1974) 17–40; B. C. GRIFFITH, H. G. SMALL, J. A. STONEHILL, S. DEY, The Structure of Scientific Literatures II: Toward a Macro- and Microstructure for Science,Science Studies 4 (1974) 339–65.
E. GARFIELD, M. V. MALIN, H. G. SMALL, Citation Data as Science Indicators, in: Y. ELKANA (Ed.),Toward a Metric of Science: The Advent of Science Indicators John Wiley, New York, 1978, 179–207.
H. G. SMALL, Structural Dynamics of Scientific Literature,International Classification 3, (1976) No. 2, 67–74.
G. SALTON, D. BERGMARK, A Citation Study of Computer Science Literature,IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication PC-22 (1979), No. 3, 146–58.
H. G. SMALL, H. R. COWARD, M. C. DEAN, E. J. GREENLEE, S. E. COZZENS,Co-citation Clusters as Indicators of Specialty Development, Final Report on NSF grant SRS-7912157 Philadelphia, Institute for Scientific Information, 1983, 58.
E. GARFIELD, ISI's On-Line System Makes Searching So Easy Even a Scientist Can Do It: Introducing Metadex automatic Indexing and ISI/BIOMED Search (Editorial)Current Contents (26 January 1981), reprinted in: E. GARFIELD,Essays of an Information Scientist, Vol. 5 ISI Press, Philadelphia, 1983, 11–14.
F. NARIN,Evaluative Bibliometrics: The Use of Publication and Citation Analysis in the Evaluation of Scientific Activity, Final report on NSF contract C-627, Computer Horizons Inc., Cherry Hill, NJ, 1976, 171.
D. J. de S. PRICE, D. BEAVER, Collaboration in an Invisible College,American Psychologist 21 (1966) No. 11, 1011–18.
J. A. HARTIGAN,Clustering Algorithms, John Wiley, New York, 1975, 119.
D. J. de S. PRICE,Little Science, Big Science Columbia University Press, New York, 1965, 63–91.
D. J. de S. PRICE, The Science of Scientists,Medical Opinion and Review 1, (1966), No. 10, 88–97.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Small, H., Sweeney, E. Clustering thescience citation index ® using co-citations. Scientometrics 7, 391–409 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02017157
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02017157