Mapping nanosciences by citation flows: A preliminary analysis

This article presents a citation-based mapping exercise in the nanosciences field and a first sketch of citation transactions (a measure of cognitive dependences). Nanosciences are considered to be one of the “convergent” components shaping the future of science and technology. Recurrent questions about the structure of the field concern its diversity and multi- or inter-disciplinarity. Observations made from various points of view confirm a strong differentiation of the field, which is scattered in multiple galaxies with moderate level of exchanges. The multi-disciplinarity of themes and super-themes detected by mapping also appears moderate, most of the super-themes being based on physics and chemistry in various proportions. Structural analysis of the list of references in articles suggests that the moderate multi-disciplinarity observed at the aggregate level partly stems from an actual inter-disciplinarity at the article level.

[1]  J. Youtie,et al.  Refining search terms for nanotechnology , 2008 .

[2]  Philippe Larédo.  Six major challenges facing public intervention in higher education, science, technology and innovation , 2003 .

[3]  Grid Thoma,et al.  Scientific and technological regimes in nanotechnology. Combinatorial inventors and performance , 2005 .

[4]  Michel Zitt,et al.  Facing Diversity of Science: A Challenge for Bibliometric Indicators , 2005 .

[5]  M. Meyer,et al.  Nanotechnology-interdisciplinarity, patterns of collaboration and differences in application , 1998, Scientometrics.

[6]  A. Franks.  REVIEW ARTICLE: Nanotechnology , 1987 .

[7]  Michel Zitt,et al.  Bridging citation and reference distributions: Part I - The referencing-structure function and its application to co-citation and co-item studies , 2004, Scientometrics.

[8]  M. C. Roco,et al.  Overview Converging Technologies for Improving Human Performance , 2003 .

[9]  Domenges,et al.  Analyse factorielle sphérique: Une exploration , 1979 .

[10]  D. Jansen,et al.  New Forms of Governance in Research Organizations , 2007 .

[11]  Jesse A. Stump,et al.  The structure and infrastructure of the global nanotechnology literature , 2006 .

[12]  Tibor Braun,et al.  Nanoscience and nanotecnology on the balance , 1997, Scientometrics.

[13]  D. T. Tomov,et al.  Comparative indicators of interdisciplinarity in modern science , 1996, Scientometrics.

[14]  Blaise Cronin,et al.  Normative shaping of scientific practice: The magic of Merton , 2004, Scientometrics.

[15]  Martin Meyer,et al.  What do we know about innovation in nanotechnology? Some propositions about an emerging field between hype and path-dependency , 2007, Scientometrics.

[16]  Edmond Chow,et al.  New Experiments in Distributional Representations of Synonymy , 2005, CoNLL.

[17]  Loet Leydesdorff,et al.  Theories of Citation , 1998 .

[18]  André Salem.  Jean-Paul Benzécri et collaborateurs, Pratique de l'analyse des données : linguistique et lexicologie , 1982 .

[19]  Alain Lelu.  Clusters and factors: neural algorithms for a novel representation of huge and highly multidimensional data sets , 1994 .

[20]  Michel Zitt,et al.  Development of a method for detection and trend analysis of research fronts built by lexical or cocitation analysis , 1994, Scientometrics.

[21]  Wolfgang Glänzel,et al.  A new methodological approach to bibliographic coupling and its application to the national, regional and institutional level , 2005, Scientometrics.

[22]  K. Matusita.  Decision Rules, Based on the Distance, for Problems of Fit, Two Samples, and Estimation , 1955 .

[23]  Mihail C. Roco,et al.  Converging Technologies for Improving Human Performance: Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Information Technology and Cognitive Science , 2003 .

[24]  Wassily Leontief.  Proposal for the Use of the Input–Output Approach in the Analysis of the Structure of Interdisciplinary Relationships , 1996 .

[25]  Henry G. Small,et al.  Co-citation in the scientific literature: A new measure of the relationship between two documents , 1973, J. Am. Soc. Inf. Sci..

[26]  M. M. Kessler.  Bibliographic coupling between scientific papers , 1963 .

[27]  Isabel Gómez,et al.  An approach to interdisciplinarity through bibliometric indicators , 2001, Scientometrics.

[28]  Joachim Schummer,et al.  Multidisciplinarity, interdisciplinarity, and patterns of research collaboration in nanoscience and nanotechnology , 2004, Scientometrics.

[29]  Michael R. Darby,et al.  Grilichesian Breakthroughs: Inventions of Methods of Inventing and Firm Entry in Nanotechnology , 2003 .

[30]  Thed N. van Leeuwen,et al.  Interdisciplinary dynamics of modern science: analysis of cross-disciplinary citation flows , 2000 .

[31]  Thomas Heinze,et al.  Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in Europe : Analysis of Publications and Patent Applications including Comparisons with the United States , 2004 .

[32]  Mihail C. Roco,et al.  Converging Technologies for Improving Human Performance , 2003 .

[33]  Stefan Kuhlmann,et al.  Analysis of heterogeneous collaboration in the German research system with a focus on nanotechnology , 2006 .

[34]  Michel Zitt,et al.  Delineating complex scientific fields by an hybrid lexical-citation method: An application to nanosciences , 2006, Inf. Process. Manag..

[35]  Loet Leydesdorff,et al.  Is the United States losing ground in science? A global perspective on the world science system , 2009, Scientometrics.

[36]  Brigitte Escofier,et al.  Analyse factorielle et distances répondant au principe d'équivalence distributionnelle , 1978 .