Abstract

Indicators of science performance and evaluation are important to support decision making processes in science policy. In this context, output science indicators are analyzed through bibliometric, scientometric and webometric studies, usually conducted in databases produced by the Institute for Scientific Information. (ISI). One of the major problems with the use of these products however, is related to the variations of a given name in the author field. This is particularly relevant in the case of hispanic names, where a search strategy needs to consider significant variations to an author name. Proposals however have been limited to being aware of the situation and to submit recommendations to database producers, journal editors and even authors. Up to date no reports have been published on the method or approach used to analyze and solve this problem. The purpose of this work was to identify the coverage of the members of Mexico’s Researchers National System (Sistema Nacional de Investigadores, SNI) in ISI’s National Citation Report-Mexico (NCR) data base. The final goal was to construct a methodology so as to increase recall and precision rates in the coverage of SNI members in NCR. The study considered two phases. Phase one lead to the identification of the 9,201 SNI members in NCR for the period 1984-2002. In the second phase, a sample of 658 names was selected from SNI members. And an exhaustive search of author names was conducted, including precision criteria such as validation. Results helped to construct a methodology that lead to the grouping of four categories of names, each with a different level of difficulty and precision in the recall of data from NCR. An increase of up to 26.9% in the recall ratio from NCR was obtained through the use of this methodology. This document describes the conceptual model that emerged from the methodology, and discusses the research lines to follow as well as the implications of the study.

Highlights

  • CONSTRUCCIÓN DE UNA METODOLOGÍA PARA IDENTIFICAR INVESTIGADORES MEXICANOS the use of these products is related to the variations of a given name in the author field

  • Results helped to construct a methodology that lead to the grouping of four categories of names, each with a different level of difficulty and precision in the recall of data from National Citation Report-Mexico (NCR)

  • Cuando la evaluación se realiza a nivel nacional y se analiza como sistema, se vuelve necesario identificar no sólo los indicadores de input, como gasto en ciencia, número de investigadores, infraestructura, etc., sino también los indicadores de output, como productividad, impacto, y/o benchmarking, tal como lo han venido realizando organismos internacionales establecidos para ese propósito (National Science Board, 2004; European Commission, 2003; OCD, 2002; RICYT, 2002)

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Summary

Introducción

La evaluación del desempeño de la actividad científica de un individuo, un grupo de investigadores, una institución o un país, es tarea obligada en todo proceso de gestión relacionado con la organización y administración de los recursos asignados a la investigación y el desarrollo. Los productos del ISI se han utilizado como herramientas importantes para evaluar el desempeño de la actividad científica de países, instituciones, grupos de investigación y hasta individuos (Garfield y Welljams, 1992; Garfield, 1990; 1979). A pesar de que esta situación de alerta es conocida por la mayoría de los investigadores dedicados a esta área del conocimiento, no se ha presentado en la literatura una metodología o enfoque que ayude a establecer procedimientos para organizar y validar registros de las bases de datos de ISI, adecuadamente. Se espera que dicha productividad tenga una visibilidad en fuentes secundarias convencionales de información; y que el impacto sea establecido en base a las citas recibidas a sus trabajos publicados en la corriente internacional; principalmente reflejadas en los productos del ISI. Esta inquietud por obtener dicha representación fue la que llevó a la conducción original del estudio

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