María Teresa Fernández

Advantages and limitations in the use of impact factor measures for the assessment of research performance

Impact factor is a quasi-qualitative indicator, which provides a measurement of the prestige and international visibility of journals. Although the use of impact factor-based indicators for science policy purposes has increased over the last two decades, several limitations have been pointed out and should be borne in mind. The use of impact factor should be treated carefully when applied to the analysis of peripheral countries, whose national journals are hardly covered by ISI databases. Our experience in the use of impact factor based indicators for the analysis of the Spanish scientific production is shown. The usefulness of the impact factor measures in macro, meso and micro analyses is displayed. In addition, the main advantages, such as the great accessibility of impact factor and its ready-to-use nature are pointed out. Several limitations such as the need to avoid inter-field comparisons or the convenience of using a fixed journal set for international comparisons are also stressed. It is worth noting that the use of impact factor in the research evaluation process has influenced strongly the publication strategy of scientists.

Influence of sewage sludge application on crop yields and heavy metal availability

Abstract A calcareous soil with a low content of organic matter was treated with aerobic or anaerobic sewage sludge. In the same way, chicken manure was used for comparison. Influences on crop yields and the supply of macronutrients and heavy metals to soil and plant tissues were studied. In the soil amended with the sludges the total N and extractable N and P contents increased, whereas the extractable K level remained nearly constant. Samples which had undergone a period of humification prior to sowing, mineralized part of their organic N and P during this period of time. Through sludge application, the levels of Cu, Zn, and Pb increased, the Fe content decreased while the extractability of Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, and Pb increased as compared to the control. Sludge application enhanced the maize and barley yields as is the case of chicken manure. Sewage sludges supplied a considerable amount of available N to the plants, whereas the supply.of available K was low. In the barley plants it was observed that the hi...

Analysis of the structure of international scientific cooperation networks through bibliometric indicators

International scientific cooperation of Latin American countries amongst themselves, with the USA and with the European Union in the period 1991–1995 was studied. The analysis deepens in the differences per subject area and the influence of the regional axis involved. Collaboration patterns differ according to the scientific size of the latin American countries, the thematic areas and whether a bilateral collaboration or a participation in a multilateral network takes place. Some special characteristics of multi-regional cooperation networks are presented.

Coping with the problem of subject classification diversity

The delimitation of a research field in bibliometric studies presents the problem of the diversity of subject classifications used in the sources of input and output data. Classification of documents according to thematic codes or keywords is the most accurate method, mainly used in specialised bibliographic or patent databases. Classification of journals in disciplines presents lower specificity, and some shortcomings as the change over time of both journals and disciplines and the increasing interdisciplinarity of research. Differences in the criteria in which input and output data classifications are based obliges to aggregate data in order to match them. Standardization of subject classifications emerges as an important point in bibliometric studies in order to allow international comparisons, although flexibility is needed to meet the needs of local studies.

Cooperative research projects between the Spanish National Research Council and Latin-American institutions

Research projects in cooperation between Spanish National Research Council and Latin-American Organizations, that have been developed in the last eight years, were studied. Around forty Spanish research institutes have cooperated with Latin-American ones, mostly with Cuba, Chile, Brazil and Mexico. The interpretation of the collaboration rates with the different countries is discussed. Duration of the projects, number of researchers and research output were examined. The cooperation results were quantified through articles, presentations to congresses, reports, monographs, patents and thesis. Diffusion, languages and impact of the journals used for publication were studied. Non quantifiable outputs were also examined.

Internacionalización de la producción científica de España en Radiología y Neuroimagen (1996-2003)

Se desea analizar la situacion de la investigacion en Radiologia en Espana a traves de las publicaciones de autores espanoles en revistas de amplia difusion internacional. Se analiza la produccion cientifica de Espana en revistas recogidas por la base de datos Science Citation Index (SCI) en los temas de Radiologia, Medicina Nuclear y de la Imagen y «Neuroimagen» durante los anos 1996-2003. Durante dicho periodo la produccion ascendio a 1.562 documentos (3,5% de la Medicina Clinica espanola), y experimento un incremento superior al mostrado por el total del pais (40% frente al 24%). Se observa una concentracion de la produccion en las comunidades de Cataluna (35%), Madrid (28%) y Comunidad Valenciana (10%). Al relativizar la produccion segun la poblacion, destacan las comunidades de Navarra y Cantabria con una alta produccion relativa. El sector sanitario es el mas activo, destacando el Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, el Hospital Clinic de Barcelona y la Ciutat Sanitaria Vall D’Hebron de Barcelona, que no solo tienen la mayor produccion sino que ademas publican en revistas de mas factor de impacto que el promedio del pais. Entre los centros no hospitalarios destacan el Centro de Investigaciones Energeticas, Medioambientales y Tecnologicas y la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Se observa una alta actividad en colaboracion: 68% de los documentos cuentan con mas de 1 centro, en el 20% participa algun centro extranjero, y los documentos estan firmados por una media de 6 autores. Los datos senalan que la Radiologia espanola esta experimentando una creciente internacionalizacion, que sin embargo esta todavia en una fase inicial, siendo el porcentaje de documentos publicados en las revistas mas prestigiosas de la especialidad inferior al observado en otras disciplinas. La actividad e impacto relativos de Espana en el area estan todavia ligeramente por debajo de los correspondientes al promedio de la UE, pero el pais muestra una tendencia ascendente en su produccion e impacto.

Regionalisation of science and technology data in Spain

The scientific and technological performance of the 17 Spanish regions is studied through bibliometric and socio-economic indicators, to identify scientifically or technologically oriented regions, their specialities and characteristics. A descriptive typology of the Spanish regions based on R&D input and output indicators, as well as on social and economic indicators, is presented. The influence of regional policies in research and technological activities is discussed. Copyright , Beech Tree Publishing.

Six years of Spanish scientific activity in physics and engineering through INSPEC and COMPENDEX

This study is an analysis of six years of Spanish bibliography retrieved from INSPEC and COMPENDEX. The quantitative evolution of the scientific activity by years and Institutions, the recent tendencies to publish in foreign journals, as well as to have the papers signed by more authors are followed. The most frequently used journals are ranked according to their impact factor and subject. Some hypothesis are formulated and tested, trying to find a relationship between the growth of the Spanish scientific activity and its quality.

INDICYT science and technology indicators in Spain: development of an application for interactive search on the Internet

The aim of the INDICYT project is to establish a permanent system to present Spanish science and technology indicators on the Internet. Relevant and frequently dispersed information has been collected, selected, harmonised, validated and processed in order to generate output indicators related to the inputs of the Spanish S&T system. An application has been developed enabling the consultation of these science indicators on the Internet in an interactive format, allowing user-friendly, transparent navigation. It will be a useful tool in analysing the Spanish S&T system, particularly for research managers and scientists. Copyright , Beech Tree Publishing.