The bibliometric bandwagon: Characteristics of bibliometric articles outside the field literature

The controversial use of bibliometrics in scientific decision making has necessitated the need for researchers to remain informed and engaged about bibliometrics. G länzel and S choepflin ( ) first raised the issue of bibliometric standards in bibliometric research and this concern has been echoed by several additional bibliometric researchers over time ( B raun, ; G länzel, ; Abbott, Cyranoski, Jones, Maher, Schiermeier, Lane, ; Nature, ; van N oorden, ; W allin, ). We compare the characteristics of articles published within and outside the L ibrary and I nformation S cience ( LIS ) field, including the relative impact and the affiliation of the contributing authors. We find that although the visibility of bibliometric articles within LIS is higher, it is not significant. However, a statistically significant growth in the number of articles written by authors without a bibliometric affiliation was found. This article provides an independent empirical investigation of publication trends potentially underlying G länzel and S choepflin's ( ) concerns regarding the misuse of bibliometric results, and the inaccurate dissemination of concepts, results, and methods outside of the bibliometric field.