Introduction to Informetrics : quantitative methods in library, documentation and information science

Abstract

I. Statistics This part begins with elementary descriptive statistics and elements of probability. It continues with a chapter on inferential statistics, including regression, correlation and nonparametric statistics. Next, there is a chapter on sampling theory, including overlap problems. Part I concludes with a short description of several techniques of multivariate statistics: multiple regression, principal component analysis, multidimensional scaling and cluster techniques. II. Operations research and library management The second part deals with applications of linear programming, including transportation and assignment problems, and basic queueing theory. Special attention is paid to book circulation interference. III. Citation analysis Citer motivations, citation networks, bibliographic coupling and co-citation analysis are introduced here. Citation measures such as the impact factor are defined. This part ends with some science policy applications. IV. Informetric models Informetric models and their relations are studied. At the heart of this theory is the dual approach between sources and items giving rise to the definition of Information Production Processes. Explanations and applications of the classical informetric laws as well as fitting methods are provided.