Bailon-Moreno R, Jurado-Alameda E, Ruiz-Banos RR, Courtial JP "Bibliometric laws: Empirical flaws of fit " SCIENTOMETRICS 63 (2): 209-229 APR 2005

[Eugene Garfield]

Bailon-Moreno R - bailonm at ugr.es

Title: Bibliometric laws: Empirical flaws of fit

Author(s): Bailon-Moreno R, Jurado-Alameda E, Ruiz-Banos RR, Courtial JP

Source: SCIENTOMETRICS 63 (2): 209-229 APR 2005

Document Type: Article    Language: English
Cited References: 29

Abstract:
The bibliometric laws of Zipf, Bradford, and Lotka, in their various
mathematical expressions, frequently present difficulties in the fitting of
empirical values. The empirical flaws of fit take place in the frequency of
the words, in the productivity of the authors and the journals, as well as
in econometric and demographic aspects. This indicates that the underlying
fractal model should be revised, since, as shown, the inverse power
equations (of the Zipf-Mandelbrot type) are not adequate, as they need to
include exponential terms. These modifications not only affect
Bibliometrics and Scientometrics, but also, for the generality of the
fractal model, apply to Economy, Demography, and even Natural Sciences in
general.

Addresses: Bailon-Moreno R (reprint author), Univ Granada, Fac Ciencias,
Dept Ingn Quim, Campus Fuentenueva, Granada, 18701 Spain
Univ Granada, Fac Ciencias, Dept Ingn Quim, Granada, 18701 Spain
Univ Granada, Fac Bibliotecon & Documentac, Dept Bibliotecon & Documentac,
Granada, Spain
Univ Nantes, LabECD, Nantes, France

E-mail Addresses: bailonm at ugr.es

Publisher: SPRINGER, VAN GODEWIJCKSTRAAT 30, 3311 GZ DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS

IDS Number: 924RX

ISSN: 0138-9130

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