An empirical approach to compare the performance of heterogeneous academic fields

Authors:
Giancarlo Ruocco;Cinzia Daraio
Affiliations:
Department of Physics, University of Rome `La Sapienza' and Center for Life NanoScience@LaSapienza, IIT, University of Rome `La Sapienza', Rome, Italy;Department of Computer, Control and Management Engineering Antonio Ruberti (DIAG), University of Rome `La Sapienza', Rome, Italy 00185
Venue:
Scientometrics
Year:
2013

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Abstract

In this paper, we propose a `scaling' approach to compare the scientific performance of Italian heterogeneous academic disciplines. This method is based on the idea that, after eliminating the percentages of `silent' researchers, the distribution of bibliometric parameters of the different academic fields can be superimposed and collapse into a unique master curve by a single scaling parameter. By using data on the scientific production of around 2,500 scholars of the university of Rome `La Sapienza' from the Web of Science from 2004 to 2008, we (i) demonstrate the existence of a master curve, (ii) determine the scaling factors that work like rates of substitution to compare the scientific production across different academic fields on a common ground, (iii) show that the master bibliometric distribution follows a log-normal law and (iv) illustrate the relevance of the proposed approach for research assessment and allocation of competitive funding at the university level.