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Article
Publication date: 1 May 2007

Practical potentials of Bradford's law: a critical examination of the received view

Jeppe Nicolaisen and Birger Hjørland

The purpose of this research is to examine the practical potentials of Bradford's law in relation to core‐journal identification.

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to examine the practical potentials of Bradford's law in relation to core‐journal identification.

Design/methodology/approach

Literature studies and empirical tests (Bradford analyses).

Findings

Literature studies reveal that the concept of “subject” has never been explicitly addressed in relation to Bradford's law. The results of two empirical tests (Bradford analyses) demonstrate that different operationalizations of the concept of “subject” produce quite different lists of core‐journals. Further, an empirical test reveals that Bradford analyses function discriminatorily against minority views.

Practical implications

Bradford analysis can no longer be regarded as an objective and neutral method. The received view on Bradford's law needs to be revised.

Originality/value

The paper questions one of the old dogmas of the field.

Details

Journal of Documentation, vol. 63 no. 3
Type: Research Article
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/00220410710743298
ISSN: 0022-0418

Keywords

  • Identification
  • Information science
  • Serials
  • Bibliographies

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Article
Publication date: 1 April 1980

AN EXACT FORMULATION OF BRADFORD'S LAW

FERDINAND F. LEIMKUHLER

An exact, discrete formulation of Bradford's law describing the distribution of articles in journals is derived by showing that Bradford's law is a special case of the…

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Abstract

An exact, discrete formulation of Bradford's law describing the distribution of articles in journals is derived by showing that Bradford's law is a special case of the Zipf‐Mandelbrot ‘rank frequency’ law. A relatively simple method is presented for fitting the model to empirical data and estimating the number of journals and articles in a subject collection. This method is demonstrated with an example application.

Details

Journal of Documentation, vol. 36 no. 4
Type: Research Article
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/eb026699
ISSN: 0022-0418

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Article
Publication date: 1 January 1975

THE APPLICATION OF BRADFORD'S LAW TO MONOGRAPHS

DENNIS B. WORTHEN

This paper presents an analysis of a sample of the monographs listed in the National Library of Medicine's Current Catalog under subject headings in the cardiovascular…

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Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of a sample of the monographs listed in the National Library of Medicine's Current Catalog under subject headings in the cardiovascular diseases category. The sample was composed of 326 publishers and 770 monographs. The sample of monographic literature used in this study conforms to Bradford's law and demonstrates that the law is not confined by political or economic boundaries.

Details

Journal of Documentation, vol. 31 no. 1
Type: Research Article
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/eb026590
ISSN: 0022-0418

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Article
Publication date: 11 May 2012

Journal based current awareness services for systems librarianship

Fei Xu

This paper aims to explore the effective ways to utilize current awareness services (CAS) for library and information science (LIS) professionals. It seeks to identify…

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Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the effective ways to utilize current awareness services (CAS) for library and information science (LIS) professionals. It seeks to identify core journals for systems librarianship based on Bradford analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

The study explored the methods for CAS based on literature review, followed by Bradford analysis of systems librarianship literature, which was conducted by the quantitative analysis approach.

Findings

A core journal list for systems librarianship was built based on Bradford analysis. Three effective ways to utilize CAS by table of contents (TOCs) alerts were identified.

Originality/value

To keep up to date with the latest literature in the field of interest, LIS professionals should take advantage of CAS. The study found three effective ways to utilize CAS by TOCs alerts and identified core journals for systems librarianship. The research can help LIS professionals efficiently navigate the information tsunami to obtain the reliable and relevant information that deserves their time and attention, and stay aware of new developments in their area of interest.

Details

VINE, vol. 42 no. 2
Type: Research Article
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/03055721211227174
ISSN: 0305-5728

Keywords

  • Current awareness services
  • Bradford's law
  • Bradford analysis
  • Systems librarianship
  • Periodicals
  • Information science
  • Librarians

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Article
Publication date: 1 March 1977

THEORY OF THE BRADFORD LAW

B.C. BROOKES

The Bradford law is explored theoretically by means of a very mixed Poisson model which, it is claimed, elucidates the uncertainties surrounding the law and its…

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Abstract

The Bradford law is explored theoretically by means of a very mixed Poisson model which, it is claimed, elucidates the uncertainties surrounding the law and its applications. It is argued that Bradford succeeded in formulating an empirical regularity which has pure and hybrid forms but that all the variants can be subsumed under a simple logarithmic law which, for reasons explained, escapes exact expression in conventional frequency terms. The theoretical aspects discussed include the hybridity of form, estimations, sampling problems, the stability of ranks, homogeneity of data, and tests of significance. Some numerical examples, some simulated and some drawn from social contexts outside bibliography, are used both to illustrate theoretical issues and also to indicate the wide generality of the Bradford law. Possible applications and developments of the theory are indicated.

Details

Journal of Documentation, vol. 33 no. 3
Type: Research Article
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/eb026641
ISSN: 0022-0418

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Article
Publication date: 18 December 2019

Bibliometric study of social network analysis literature

Yu-Sheng Su, Chien-Linag Lin, Shih-Yeh Chen and Chin-Feng Lai

The purpose of this paper is to use bibliometric analysis to identify the current state of the academic literature regarding social network analysis (SNA) and analyze its…

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to use bibliometric analysis to identify the current state of the academic literature regarding social network analysis (SNA) and analyze its knowledge base such as research authors, research countries, document type, keyword analysis and subject areas.

Design/methodology/approach

Bibliometric analysis is used and furthermore, Lotka’s and Bradford’s law is applied to perform author productivity analyses in this field during 1999 and 2018, respectively, in turn, discovering historical vein and research tendency in the future.

Findings

It appears that the research on SNA has been very popular and still in the highly mature period. So far, the USA takes the lead among the published paper. The top 2 subject areas are “Computer Science” and “Business Economics.” The primary journal that SNA articles were published is Computers in Human Behavior. SNA has been related to many research areas, such as “Social network analysis,” “Computer-mediated communication,” “Online learning,” “Social Network” and “Community of inquiry.” Finally, Kolmogorov–Smirnov (K-S) test proved that the frequency indexes of author productivity distribution certainly followed Lotka’s law.

Research limitations/implications

First, the productivity distribution may inform researchers and scholars of current issues and development of SNA. Second, the study proposed a theoretical model, based on Lotka’s law, for author productivity analysis of SNA, which can serve as reference for different areas of study in the evaluation of author productivity models. Also, in order to allow researchers to gain in-depth insights, this study aimed to report the most published institutions and keep track of the growth and trend of author productivity, by which scholars in related fields are provided with more opportunities for academic communication and technological cooperation.

Originality/value

This research on the productivity distribution of SNA may inform researchers and scholars of current issues and development of SNA. The findings report the major publication outlets and related discussion issues about SNA. Such information would be valuable for related authors, who are writing the manuscript on SNA, and also for practitioners, who may be interested in applying the theory or ideas of SNA.

Details

Library Hi Tech, vol. 38 no. 2
Type: Research Article
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/LHT-01-2019-0028
ISSN: 0737-8831

Keywords

  • Social sciences
  • Bibliometrics
  • Social network analysis
  • Literature
  • Bradford’s law
  • Lotka’s law

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Article
Publication date: 18 April 2008

A bibliometric study of Embelia ribes

Gian Singh, Moin Ahmad and Mohammad Nazim

The study aims to present a bibliometric analysis of scientific output of the plant Embelia ribes, the aim being to offer an overview of research activity in this field…

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Abstract

Purpose

The study aims to present a bibliometric analysis of scientific output of the plant Embelia ribes, the aim being to offer an overview of research activity in this field and characterize its most important aspects.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 332 articles were collected from following databases: Pub Med, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Abstract, Indian Science Abstract and Biological Abstract. The searches were restricted to published articles and contain the terms Embelia ribes and Vidanga. The various analyses focus on growth of literature, authorship pattern, most prolific authors, core journals of the subject, most productive institutes and countries. Lotka's law and bradford' law of scattering were applied to count the author productivity and core journals in the subject.

Findings

Most articles involved collaboration between two or three authors Author productivity was not found exactly fit to Lotka's law with a value of n  =  2. However, distribution of articles in different journals was found fit to Bradford's law of scattering with the distribution of 1:n: n2.

Originality/value

The paper offers an overview of research activity into the plant Embelia ribes.

Details

Library Review, vol. 57 no. 4
Type: Research Article
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/00242530810868724
ISSN: 0024-2535

Keywords

  • Plant genetics
  • Research
  • Pharmaceutical products

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Article
Publication date: 6 July 2015

Serials use in post graduates’ dissertations of pharmaceutical sciences: collection building by citation analysis

Aragudige Nagaraja and A.B Prashanth

This study aims to analyze the resources used in the citations of 156 postgraduate dissertations submitted to the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS…

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to analyze the resources used in the citations of 156 postgraduate dissertations submitted to the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) through the Acharya & BM Reddy College of Pharmacy (ABMRCP), and prepares the core journal list according to the Bradford’s law of scattering. For any research and academic institutional libraries, books and journals are considered as key resources. As the resources are more and diverse, collection building is a tough task for librarians. Citation analysis is one of the best methods to list the most used resources by the users. The paper highlights the extent use of in-house resources and open access journals in the citations.

Design/methodology/approach

Citations of PG dissertations during 2010-2013 (four years) were compiled, the data about the resources cited in each were taken and the list of resources used in PG dissertations was prepared. The list of core journals obtained by citation analysis was matched with the list of online journals provided by Health Science Library & Information Network (HELINET) of RGUHS as well as print list of journals subscribed by ABMRCP Library, and evaluated the print and online consortia journals used by ABMRCP community. The list of core journals’ ranking in the SCImago Journal & Country Rank (SJR) list-pharmaceutical sciences was identified to know the impact of the journals.

Findings

The study gives the list of different information resources cited in the pharmacy dissertations. The core list obtained by applying the Bradford’s law of scattering in this study has 19 journals pertaining to pharmacy. After matching the core list with the Keogh’s list, it is found that 31 journals can be considered very useful in the field of pharmacy. Twelve journals listed in the core list have different positions in the SJR ranking 2013. The results indicate that open-access journals with online journals subscribed through HELINET and print holdings have been cited more in the PG dissertations.

Originality/value

The topic of journal use in this case may be of greatest interest to those who purchase journals in the sciences and, very specifically, the pharmaceutical sciences.

Details

Collection Building, vol. 34 no. 3
Type: Research Article
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/CB-02-2015-0004
ISSN: 0160-4953

Keywords

  • Collection development
  • Citation analysis
  • Journals-pharmacy
  • Journals-selection
  • Collection building

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Article
Publication date: 18 January 2013

Citation analysis of doctoral theses in botany submitted to Kuvempu University, India: a case study

Koteppa Banateppanvar, B.S. Biradar and B.U. Kannappanavar

The purpose of this paper is to determine the materials cited in doctoral theses of botany, submitted to the Kuvempu University during the years 2000‐2006, with the aim of…

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the materials cited in doctoral theses of botany, submitted to the Kuvempu University during the years 2000‐2006, with the aim of improving the existing collection development of the library.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed descriptive research design. Theses submitted for the award of Doctoral degree from 2000 to 2006 to the Department of Botany, Kuvempu University were examined. The population of the study was all the theses submitted during the periods under study. Data were extracted from title page and references given at the end of each chapter. Extracted data were analysed using statistics.

Findings

The study reveals that journals are the most preferred sources of information used by the researchers in the field of botany, accounting for 74.77 per cent of total citations, although citations from books, proceedings, theses, reports and patents are also found. It is also observed those researchers are not taking much advantage of internet resources. The journal Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (USA) was ranked the first, with 158 citations, accounting for 7.57 per cent of the total journal citations. Further, Bradford's law of scattering was applied. It is observed that major citations come from journal literature. In addition, more cited materials were contributed by multi authors and degree of collaboration is 0.75.

Research limitations/implications

The paper presents a sense of the importance of botany research, and as such informs that community, as well as researchers involved in citation analysis.

Originality/value

The outcome of the study is an original research work with citation analysis of doctoral theses in botany. It highlights the information materials available and used by researchers of the Botany Department for their research work and those which need to be added for a healthy collection.

Details

Collection Building, vol. 32 no. 1
Type: Research Article
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/01604951311295058
ISSN: 0160-4953

Keywords

  • India
  • Universities
  • Theses
  • Serials
  • Citation analysis
  • Botany
  • Doctoral theses
  • Authorship pattern
  • Journals ranking
  • Bradford's law of scattering

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Book part
Publication date: 20 January 2005

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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Details

Power Laws in the Information Production Process: Lotkaian Informetrics
Type: Book
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/S1876-0562(2005)0000005011
ISBN: 978-0-12088-753-8

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