Hunter P. "The Power of Power Laws" The Scientist, 7(8):p.22, April 21, 2003

[Loet Leydesdorff]

Dear Quentin,

In scientometrics we study textual units of analysis. We assume that
these representations provide us with access to evolving communication
systems. Communications can be considered as operations that develop
algorithmically (by changing the units of analysis). However, in the
discourse we need geometrical metaphors to communicate, but inadvertedly
we thus reduce the representation with one degree of freedom. The
alternative would be to communicate in terms of movies or perhaps
videoclipses.

Simulation studies are perhaps helpful from this perspective because one
can exhibit the (algorithmic) animations. The fingerprints of the
communication as studied in scientometrics (by analyzing texts
statistically) can inform us from the perspective of simulation studies
about parameter estimations. However, the construction of indicators
would then have to be rethought and the relation with existing
indicators carefully specified.

Hitherto, most longitudinal studies in scientometrics have been based on
comparative statics (for example, comparing mappings for different
years). In the narrative one can then choose between a focus on the
complexity at each moment in time or the trajectory along the time axis.
In my opinion, the issue is how to combine the dynamic perspective with
the perspective on the complexity at each moment without loosing the
operationalization in scientometric terms.

In response to your second question, let me assure you that I don't
consider you as a lay audience. :-) The issue is difficult, but perhaps
this message still communicates.

With kind regards,


Loet

> -----Original Message-----
> From: ASIS&T Special Interest Group on Metrics
> [mailto:SIGMETRICS at LISTSERV.UTK.EDU] On Behalf Of Quentin L. Burrell
> Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2003 11:30 PM
> To: SIGMETRICS at LISTSERV.UTK.EDU
> Subject: Re: [SIGMETRICS] Hunter P. "The Power of Power Laws"
> The Scientist, 7(8):p.22, April 21, 2003
>
>
> Loet
>
> "One would expect the dimensionality of
> textual sedimentation to be one degree of freedom less
> complex than the communication systems that are carried by
> the texts. "
>
> Sorry, but you lost me there.
>
> Can you provide references and/or definitions so that the lay
> reader of this list knows what is being talked about?
>
> Quentin
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ASIS&T Special Interest Group on Metrics
> [mailto:SIGMETRICS at LISTSERV.UTK.EDU]On Behalf Of Loet Leydesdorff
> Sent: 29 April 2003 08:02
> To: SIGMETRICS at LISTSERV.UTK.EDU
> Subject: Re: [SIGMETRICS] Hunter P. "The Power of Power Laws"
> The Scientist, 7(8):p.22, April 21, 2003
>
>
> Dear Gene and colleagues,
>
> Derek de Solla Price (1965) found 2.5 < n < 3 for
> scientometric distributions like citations. One would expect
> the dimensionality of textual sedimentation to be one degree
> of freedom less complex than the communication systems that
> are carried by the texts. Thus, one might expect 3.5 < n < 4
> for social (including scientific) communication.
>
> These biologists now claim n = 4, but these systems are
> "realized". When the system remains pending (like social
> order), one would expect n to fail to reach the value of
> four, isn't it? Can we test that? Sylvan: Do your results
> point in this direction?
>
> With kind regards,
>
>
> Loet
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: ASIS&T Special Interest Group on Metrics
> > [mailto:SIGMETRICS at LISTSERV.UTK.EDU] On Behalf Of Eugene Garfield
> > Sent: Monday, April 28, 2003 8:38 PM
> > To: SIGMETRICS at LISTSERV.UTK.EDU
> > Subject: [SIGMETRICS] Hunter P. "The Power of Power Laws" The
> > Scientist, 7(8):p.22, April 21, 2003
> >
> >
> > Dear colleagues:
> >
> > While the primary content of The Scientist is generally not of
> > specific interest to scientometricians, this particular
> article will
> > interest many of you.
> >
> > "The Power of Power Laws" ..A multidisciplinary team finds
> that when
> > it comes to scales, a fourth dimension is applicable to all living
> > things By Philip Hunter.  The Scientist, 7(8):p. 22, Apr.
> 21, 2003 url
> > for the article:
> http://www.the-scientist.com/yr2003/apr/feature_030421.html
>
> Best wishes. Gene Garfield
>
> PS Anyone can sign up free of charge to receive email
> notifications of the TOC of each biweekly issue as well as a
> daily news up date. Just go to www.the-scientist.com
>
> When responding, please attach my original message
> __________________________________________________
> Eugene Garfield, PhD. email:  garfield at codex.cis.upenn.edu
> home page: www.eugenegarfield.org
> Tel: 215-243-2205 Fax 215-387-1266
> President, The Scientist LLC. www.the-scientist.com
> 3535 Market St., Phila. PA 19104-3389
> Chairman Emeritus, ISI www.isinet.com
> 3501 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3302
> Past President, American Society for Information Science and
> Technology
> (ASIS&T) www.asis.org
>