Customer Reviews

The Challenge of Scientometrics: The Development, Measurement, and Self-Organization of Scientific Communications

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With unlimited growth of the knowledge enterprise, Science & Technology (S&T) studies assume increasing importance. It is now established that scientific developments and the enterprise of knowledge production is amenable to measurement. Scientometrics instruments provide vital inputs for the growth and development of Science & Technology both directly and by enabling S&T policies. The study of S& T requires a multidisciplinary approach, encompassing diverse subjects like mathematics, philosophy, sociology,history, etc. This multidisciplinary communication process is multi-layered, each layer having its own dynamics. A systematic and broad-based approach is required to understand the structure and dynamics of the knowledge domain of the subject specialties. Dr.Loet Leydesdorff of the Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR), University of Amsterdam has made significant contribution to the studies of Science,Technology and innovation. His multidisciplinary training (a scientist of considerable standing and a philosopher of science) is his added advantage to move effortlessly into different subject areas and get the best out of the diversity. His long and extensive research experience in the subject also has contributed immensely in giving shape to the book. The first edition of this book was published by DSWO Press of Leiden University in the year 1995. It was a popular one. The book was translated into Japanese and published by Tamagawa University Press. The present edition (2nd) is an extended version which have been thoroughly revised, updated and improved. A new chapter on firm behavior and institutional agency has been added. Both theory and methodology are discussed in depth with examples and citations. The presentation is simple and easy to understand. The book runs into 344 pages and these are spread over 13 chapters organized in three parts. Part I deals with Theoretical perspectives on scientometrics Part II deals with Methodological Studies, and Part III discusses Communication, Probabilistic entropy and Self-Organization. The subjects are distributed among the following chapters: - Scientometrics and the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge - The intellectual Organization of the Sciences, - The methodological Priority of Textual data, - Full Text Analysis of Scientific articles, - From Words and Co-words to Information and Probabilistic Entropy, - The Static Model, - Modelling the Dynamics of Scientific developments, - The Static and Dynamic Analysis of Network data, - Irreversibilities in Science & Technology networks, - The Impact of European Commission Policies of the Transnational Publication System, - Knowledge Representation, Bayesian Inferences, and Empirical Science Studies, - The Possibility of a Mathematical Sociology of Scientific Communications.

By writing the book the author has done a commendable job. He has covered all relevant topics. This book will be a very useful reference guide for researchers, teachers and policy analysts, particularly to those who are doing studies on Science & Technology. Scientometrics is a comparatively new discipline. With the rapid explosion of information the requirement and relevance of scientometrics studies are increasing. The book will help immensely to popularize Scientometrics and understand the depth and importance of the subject.

This important book rightly deserves wide readership. I have no hesitation in giving five star (*****) rating to the book.