Differences in citation frequency of clinical and basic science papers in cardiovascular research

[Eugene Garfield]

Title: Differences in citation frequency of clinical and basic science papers in 
cardiovascular research

Author(s): Opthof, T (Opthof, Tobias)
Source: MEDICAL & BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING & COMPUTING  Volume: 49  
Issue: 6  Pages: 613-621  DOI: 10.1007/s11517-011-0783-6  Published: JUN 
2011  

Abstract: In this article, a critical analysis is performed on differences in 
citation frequency of basic and clinical cardiovascular papers. It appears that 
the latter papers are cited at about 40% higher frequency. The differences 
between the largest number of citations of the most cited papers are even 
larger. It is also demonstrated that the groups of clinical and basic 
cardiovascular papers are also heterogeneous concerning citation frequency. It 
is concluded that none of the existing citation indicators appreciates these 
differences. At this moment these indicators should not be used for quality 
assessment of individual scientists and scientific niches with small numbers of 
scientists.
Language: English
Document Type: Editorial Material

Author Keywords: Citation; Citation indicators; Basic science; Clinical science; 
Cardiovascular; CWTS; Hirsch index; Peer review; Peer esteem; Historical 
citation data; Citation profiles
KeyWords Plus: INDIVIDUAL SCIENTISTS; HIRSCH-INDEX; INDICATORS; 
QUALITY; OUTPUT

Addresses: [Opthof, T] Univ Amsterdam, Acad Med Ctr, Ctr Heart Failure Res, 
Expt Cardiol Grp, NL-1105 AZ Amsterdam, Netherlands
[Opthof, T] Univ Med Ctr, Dept Med Physiol, Utrecht, Netherlands
Reprint Address: Opthof, T (reprint author), Univ Amsterdam, Acad Med Ctr, Ctr 
Heart Failure Res, Expt Cardiol Grp, K2-105,Meibergdreef 9, NL-1105 AZ 
Amsterdam, Netherlands

E-mail Address: t.opthof at inter.nl.net
ISSN: 0140-0118
fulltext: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3104007/