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Measuring the growth of science

A review of indicators of scientific growth

Scientometrics volume 1, pages 9–34 (1978)Cite this article

Abstract

A number of indicators of the growth of science are critically reviewed to asses their strengths and weaknesses. The focus is on the problems involved in measuring two aspects of scientific growth, growth in manpower and growth in knowledge. It is shown that the design of better indicators depends on careful consideration of the theoretical framework within which the indicators are intended to be used. Recent advances in the sociology of science suggest ways in which the validity of existing indicators may be assessed and improved.

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Notes and references

  1. My discussion of indicators in sociology here has been much influenced by the views of H. M. BLALOCK as set out in his paper, The Measurement Problem, inMethodology in Social Research, H. M. BLALOCK and A. B. BLALOCK (Eds), McGraw-Hill, New York, 1971, 5–27.

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  85. This is not true of CRANE'S “new variable” procedure.

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  1. Department of Sociology, University of Surrey, GU2 5XH, Guilford, Surrey, (England)

    G. Nigel Gilbert

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This paper is a revision of one presented to the International Symposium on Quantitative Methods in the History of Science, Berkely, California, August 25–27, 1976, under the title Measuring Science.

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Gilbert, G.N. Measuring the growth of science. Scientometrics 1, 9–34 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02016837

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