Data Set Isolation for Bibliometric Online Analyses of Research Publications: Fundamental Mehodological Issues

tabase or among several databases. Name form inconThe aim of the article is to emphasize and illustrate the sistencies as to authors, institutions, and journals, the retrieval dimensions of data collection activity online and lack or inaccessibility of vital data in the database structheir influence on the research evaluation outcome. The tures, etc., also present obstacles. On the other hand, attempt is to reinforce the link between online retrieval comprehensive online bibliometric analyses are in many and bibliometrics. Given that various forms of publicaways easier, faster, and less expensive to perform locally tion counts and citation analyses provide a valuable and than those made using the independent CD-ROM verrevealing quantitative starting point for more qualitative sions of the relevant databases. In contrast to the online indications and assessments of Science and Technology versions, the CD-ROM systems demonstrate a vital (S&T) performance, it is evident that their reliability and shortage of robust data processing and manipulation objectivity must be undisputed as far as possible. The facilities. The downloading of records from a variety of article discusses the basic problems and limitations inCD-ROM files, the cleaning-up process, and the ensuing herent in online bibliometric data collection and analydata processing activities become cumbersome and reses, and points to possible solutions by means of illustrasource demanding. Regardless of database versioning, tive case studies and examples. The reason for perthe degree of awareness of these retrieval and set isolaforming local publication analyses online often arises tion factors, such as the relevant search commands, because of the increased use of external research assyntax, and the analysis assumptions on the part of the sessments made by centralized bodies. For small instituanalyst, plays an important role for the quality of the tions in small countries, like the North European one, analysis outcome. such self-analyses may in addition provide valuable and inexpensive insights into novel S&T niches to explore. The major concern is the extent to which online bibliographic and domain dependent databases, as a supple