HIVA0310AU Cph; Citation analysis and research evaluation - Elective module

Volume 2014/2015
Education
Master's programme in Information Science and Cultural Communication, Copenhagen
Content

This course designed to advance students understanding of the theoretical and methodological underpinnings of scholarly/scientific communication and research assessment.  Emphasis will be placed on research policy including the core quantitative methods of evaluation often used to evaluate the impactinfluence or quality of scholarly work (i.e., Bibliometrics, Scientometrics and Webometrics).  The module will highlight ongoing research at the Royal School of Library and Information Science and focus also on current national and international initiatives.

The module consists of the following parts:

1) Scientific Communication

  • Communicating research in the digital age
  • What can be measured and how?
  • Types of peer review

 

2) Informetric, Bibliometric, Scientometric Methods

  • Citation indexes
  • Publication and citation analysis
  • Visualisation and mapping
  • Social media metrics

 

3) Research Evaluation

  • Impact factors
  • Crown indicator
  • H-index

 

Learning Outcome

The objective of the module is to provide the student with

Knowledge and understanding of:

  • A specific subject within library and information science.
  • Relevant theories and methods related to the module's theme

 

Skills in:

  • Identyfying and outlining academic issues within library and information science and make these the object of independent analysis.
  • Reflecting critically on theoretical and methodological choices in relation to an academic issue.
  • Expanding on and putting a chosen subject field within library and information science into perspective.

 

Competences in:

  • Applying relevant theories and methods to a subject within library and information science.
  • Communicating a scientifically studied issue.

 

The literature will mainly focus on research and review articles from key journals and selected papers from central peer viewed conferences and books as well as research reports. In addition, technical guidelines (e.g. from Scopus.com and the Web of Science will serve as course materials).

Sample Literature:

  • Working double-blind: Should there be author anonymity in peer review? Nature (2008). 451, 605-606. Available at: http://blogs.nature.com/ peer-to peer/2008/02/ working_ doubleblind.html
  • Moed, H.F. (2005). Citation Analysis in Research Evaluation. Dordrecht: Springer.
  • Schneider, J.W. (2009). performance-based funding of research institutions in Norway.  European Political Science, 8(3), 364-378.
  • Cronin, B. & Sugimoto, C.R. (Eds.) (2014).  Bibliometrics and Beyond: Harnessing Multidimensional Indicators of Scholarly Impact. The MIT Press.

 

The course will include lectures, group work, seminars, case studies and student presentations. Students are expected to work autonomously and in teams with problems presented in to them in class and in the literature. Part of the module will be based on student case work and work with relevant software packages.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Class Instruction
  • 45
  • Exam
  • 30
  • Preparation
  • 0
  • Total
  • 75
Credit
15 ECTS
Type of assessment
Course participation under invigilation
Active participation implies presence in min. 80 % of the lectures and fulfillment of the requirements for the course in form of presentations and papers during the course

Examination language: English
Group examination: The examination can only be taken individually.
Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
Exam period
May / June 2015
Re-exam
Form of exam: Written take-home assignment, defined subject.
Assessment: Internal exam with multiple examiners, the 7-point grading scale.
Exam language: English.
Extent: Individually 20 standard pages.
The exam can be taken individually or as a group with individual assessment. Each individual’s contribution must constitute a rounded unit that it is possible to identify individually and assess. The joint element must not exceed 50% of the total extent of the assignment.