132 research outputs found
Tracing scientific influence
Scientometrics is the field of quantitative studies of scholarly activity. It
has been used for systematic studies of the fundamentals of scholarly practice
as well as for evaluation purposes. Although advocated from the very beginning
the use of scientometrics as an additional method for science history is still
under explored. In this paper we show how a scientometric analysis can be used
to shed light on the reception history of certain outstanding scholars. As a
case, we look into citation patterns of a specific paper by the American
sociologist Robert K. Merton.Comment: 25 pages LaTe
Contextualization of topics - browsing through terms, authors, journals and cluster allocations
This paper builds on an innovative Information Retrieval tool, Ariadne. The
tool has been developed as an interactive network visualization and browsing
tool for large-scale bibliographic databases. It basically allows to gain
insights into a topic by contextualizing a search query (Koopman et al., 2015).
In this paper, we apply the Ariadne tool to a far smaller dataset of 111,616
documents in astronomy and astrophysics. Labeled as the Berlin dataset, this
data have been used by several research teams to apply and later compare
different clustering algorithms. The quest for this team effort is how to
delineate topics. This paper contributes to this challenge in two different
ways. First, we produce one of the different cluster solution and second, we
use Ariadne (the method behind it, and the interface - called LittleAriadne) to
display cluster solutions of the different group members. By providing a tool
that allows the visual inspection of the similarity of article clusters
produced by different algorithms, we present a complementary approach to other
possible means of comparison. More particular, we discuss how we can - with
LittleAriadne - browse through the network of topical terms, authors, journals
and cluster solutions in the Berlin dataset and compare cluster solutions as
well as see their context.Comment: proceedings of the ISSI 2015 conference (accepted
Learning in a Landscape: Simulation-building as Reflexive Intervention
This article makes a dual contribution to scholarship in science and
technology studies (STS) on simulation-building. It both documents a specific
simulation-building project, and demonstrates a concrete contribution to
interdisciplinary work of STS insights. The article analyses the struggles that
arise in the course of determining what counts as theory, as model and even as
a simulation. Such debates are especially decisive when working across
disciplinary boundaries, and their resolution is an important part of the work
involved in building simulations. In particular, we show how ontological
arguments about the value of simulations tend to determine the direction of
simulation-building. This dynamic makes it difficult to maintain an interest in
the heterogeneity of simulations and a view of simulations as unfolding
scientific objects. As an outcome of our analysis of the process and
reflections about interdisciplinary work around simulations, we propose a
chart, as a tool to facilitate discussions about simulations. This chart can be
a means to create common ground among actors in a simulation-building project,
and a support for discussions that address other features of simulations
besides their ontological status. Rather than foregrounding the chart's
classificatory potential, we stress its (past and potential) role in discussing
and reflecting on simulation-building as interdisciplinary endeavor. This chart
is a concrete instance of the kinds of contributions that STS can make to
better, more reflexive practice of simulation-building.Comment: 37 page
Evolution in adaptive landscapes: examples of science and technology development
"In science and technology studies it is very common to describe structure formation and structure development by using spatial representations. Maps of such knowledge landscapes allow the dynamic character of the research processes to be visualized. In this paper, we discuss how concepts, methods and mathematical models that allow the dynamics and the evolution of complex systems to be described can be applied to this area. A special approach is considered, which we call 'geometrically oriented evolution theory' (GOETHE). First steps towards implementing this new method in the context of the development of national science systems are discussed." (author's abstract)"In Wissenschafts- und Technologieuntersuchungen wird für die Beschreibung von Strukturbildungs- und Strukturveränderungsprozessen häufig auf räumlich-geografische Metapher zurückgegriffen. Mit Hilfe von veränderlichen Wissenslandschaften lässt sich die Dynamik des wissenschaftlichen Suchprozesses veranschaulichen. In der vorliegenden Arbeit, wird die Anwendung von Konzepte, Methoden und mathematische Modelle aus der Komplexitätsforschung für die Beschreibung von Suchprozessen in Wissenslandschaften diskutiert. Ausgangspunkt bilden dabei sog. geometrisch orientierte Evolutionstheorien (GOETHE). Erste empirische Anwendungen im Bereich der Entwicklung nationaler Wissenschaftssysteme werden präsentiert." (Autorenreferat
Looking at a digital research data archive - Visual interfaces to EASY
In this paper we explore visually the structure of the collection of a
digital research data archive in terms of metadata for deposited datasets. We
look into the distribution of datasets over different scientific fields; the
role of main depositors (persons and institutions) in different fields, and
main access choices for the deposited datasets. We argue that visual analytics
of metadata of collections can be used in multiple ways: to inform the archive
about structure and growth of its collection; to foster collections strategies;
and to check metadata consistency. We combine visual analytics and visual
enhanced browsing introducing a set of web-based, interactive visual interfaces
to the archive's collection. We discuss how text based search combined with
visual enhanced browsing enhances data access, navigation, and reuse.Comment: Submitted to the TPDL 201
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