Some bibliometric indexes for members of the Scientific Association of Animal Production (ASPA)

Abstract

This study calculated several bibliometric indexes to analyze the scientific output of 363 members of the Scientific Association of Animal Production (ASPA) in Italy, based on their publications listed by ISI-Thompson, Web of Science database (search period from 1989 until 2006). Five main research areas were considered: AGR/17 (Animal genetics and breeding), AGR/18 (Animal nutrition and feeding), AGR/19 (Animal husbandry), AGR/20 (Poultry, rabbits and fish production) and External researcher (Ere). Position groups were: FP (Full Professor), AP (Associate Professor), Re (Researcher), EReUni (scientists working temporarily at the University or professors of an area different from AGR/17-20), and EReInst (scientists working at other institutions). Each institution was classified according to three geographical areas of Italy: North, Centre and South. Main calculated bibliometric indexes were: Ni = total number of papers published by member i over yi years; yi = number of years publishing of member i; Ci. = total number of citations of member i; IFpersonal. = Ci./Ni, Personal Impact factor of member i; Total IFjournal. = Sum of impact factor reported by the ISI-Thompson database of the journal in which a paper of member i was published (Journal Citation Reports Science Edition, 2004); Mean IFjournal. = Mean impact factor of all papers published in journals having a recognized IFjournal. by the ISI-Thompson database for member i; h = number of papers with at least h citations; m = h/y, i.e. average increase of h over the yi years publishing; and a = Ci./h2. Among the studied bibliometric indexes, Ni, Ci., Total IFjournal. and h are reliable, while IFpersonal. and Mean IFjournal. are not, to evaluate the scientific career of Animal Scientists in Italy. FP and members of AGR/17 tend to show the highest values of bibliometric indexes. Most ASPA members work in the North of Italy, which shows the highest median and highest percentage of scientists with maximum values for most bibliometric parameters. The scientific system of Animal Science in Italy has a fairly good degree of internationalization, but greater efforts should be made to increase the productivity and impact of Animal Scientists.