Redefining the field of economics: Improving field normalization for the application of bibliometric techniques in the field of economics

Thed N. van Leeuwen and Clara Calero Medina

Research Evaluation, 2012, vol. 21, issue 1, 61-70

Abstract: Field normalization, and its effect of bibliometric indicators, is a widely discussed topic among bibliometricians. It is not the necessity of field normalization around which the debate evolves, but how to field normalize bibliometric indicators. In this article we present the results of a study in which publication data of a large disciplinary database in economics (EconLit) is combined with the multidisciplinary citation indexes produced by Thomson Reuters. The main purpose of the study is to investigate whether it would be possible to combine the classification scheme of the economics database with the advantages of the citation indexes (both multiple addresses and citation data), in order to improve the possible applicability of the citation indexes in research performance studies in the field of economics and its periphery. The authors show the starting points of both databases, the outcome of the matching and combining of both sets of publications, and the effects of EconLit field classification in terms of differences in impact levels. The study clearly shows that research performance exercises conducted in the field of economics would benefit from the labeling of publications in the citation indexes with a more detailed classification scheme as found in EconLit. Copyright The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com, Oxford University Press.

Date: 2012
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (23)

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