The Literature of Bibliometrics, Scientometrics, and Informetrics

• Published in: Scientometrics Vol. 52; no. 2; pp. 291 - 314
• Main Authors: Hood, William W., Wilson, Concepción S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.10.2001
• Subjects: And; Bibliometrics; Bibliometrics. Scientometrics. Evaluation; Definitions; Exact sciences and technology; Growth of literature; History; Information and communication sciences; Information science. Documentation; Informetrics; Library and information science. General aspects; Sciences and techniques of general use; Scientometrics; Scientific literature; Definition; Scientometrics; Terminology; Bibliometrics; Informetrics
• ISSN: 0138-9130; 1588-2861
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1017919924342

Contribution to an issue dedicated to the memory of the Russian 'father of scientometrics', Vassily Vassilievich Nalimov (1910-1997). Since Nalimov coined the term 'scientometrics' in the 1960s, it has grown in popularity and is used to describe the study of science - its growth, structure, interrelationships and productivity. Scientometrics is related to and has overlapping interests with bibliometrics and informetrics. Presents the origins and historical development of each of these terms. Presents profiles of the usage of each of these terms over time. Provides various definitions of each of the terms from an examination of the literature. Determines the size of the overall literature of these fields and shows the growth and stabilization of both the dissertation and non dissertation literature. (Original abstract - amended)