Introduces two data distortion methods (Frequency-Imposed Distortion, Frequency-Imposed Probability Distortion) and uses a Monte Carlo study to compare their performance with that of other distortion methods (Point Distortion, Probability Distortion). Indications that data generated by these two methods produce accurate statistics and protect…

Presents analysis of online search patterns within user searching sessions of National Library of Medicine ELHILL system and examines user search patterns on the CATLINE database. Data previously analyzed on MEDLINE database for same period is used to compare the performance parameters of different databases within the same information system.…

Twenty short versions of articles from Engineering Synopses and the corresponding original articles were compared for ease of reading. The synopses were found to be significantly more difficult to read. (Author/MBR)

Citation data of 16 biochemistry and plant physiology journals show that reasons for lower citation potentials of plant physiology articles are: (1) readership is narrower for plant physiology journals; (2) plant physiologists can cite fewer thematically relevant new articles; and (3) plant physiology research fields are more isolated. References…

A study of ad hoc and selective translations of scientific and technical journal articles is described. Differences between two articles--one translated; the other not--with respect to original language, subject coverage, number of references and authors, and frequency with which their authors are cited in other works are presented. (Author/MBR)

Syntactical and stylistic characteristics are used to assess the degree of specialization of scientific writing. Two groups of articles dealing with the same subject but differing in degree of specialization are compared; the technical articles have lower percentages of function words and higher numbers of noun adjuncts than the general articles.…

Compares raw-use ranking of journal titles held in libraries with dividing the raw-use frequency of titles by the actual linear shelf space of the title's file to obtain a density-of-use rank. The quality of the differences between the two methods is evaluated. Thirteen references are cited. (FM)

Describes a study that examined the median citation ages of 9,850 references from 37 journals in music education, music theory, and musicology. Synchronous and diachronous obsolescence are explained, median citation age and half life are discussed, and results are compared with those of an earlier study. (29 references) (LRW)

Describes a method of selecting index terms directly from a word frequency list, an idea originally suggested by Goffman. Results of the analysis of word frequencies of two articles seem to indicate that the automated selection of index terms from a frequency list holds some promise for automatic indexing. (Author/MBR)

Citations of 23 old papers in physics and physical chemistry were studied in 978 papers in which they appeared in 1974-1975. Using a new typology of reasons for citing the papers, it was determined that in about 60 percent of the cases, the papers are still being actively used. (Author/MBR)

A quantitative comparison of peer versus bibliometric procedures for rating the quality of U.S. universities is presented. The quality of graduate faculty is measured by the Roose-Andersen peer rating, while bibliometric ratings are based on the number, average "quality," and total influence of university papers in each field.…

A study comparing citations received by patents in given year to number received in subsequent years found that, even though influential patents remain influential, both highly and infrequently cited patents age at same rate. Distribution of patents by number of citations received is stable over time. (17 references) (EJS)

This study comparing four major data aspects--expert judgment as to research performance, bibliometric variables, research output, and organizational size--in 19 pharmaceutical companies reveals a consistent tendency for bibliometric indicators to perform better than expert judgments in predicting research performance. Drug output regression…

Briefly describes the principal relevance feedback methods that have been introduced over the years and evaluates the effectiveness of the methods in producing improved query formulations. Prescriptions are given for conducting text retrieval operations iteratively using relevance feedback. (24 references) (Author/CLB)

Introduces a new approach to study competition for journals' space in academic publication by comparing the use of a given journal by journal-related authors and by other authors, based on a study of 18 educational psychology journals during a 2-year period. (Author/LRW)