TY - JOUR
T1 - Data collection methods on the web for informetric purposes - A review and analysis
AU - Bar-Ilan, Judit
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - We present different methods of data collection from the Web for informetric purposes. For each method, some studies utilizing it are reviewed, and advantages and shortcomings of each technique are discussed. The paper emphasizes that data collection must be carried out with great care. Since the Web changes constantly, the findings of any study are valid only in the time frame in which it was carried out, and are dependent on the quality of the data collection tools, which are usually not under the control of the researcher. At the current time, the quality and the reliability of most of the available search tools are not satisfactory, thus informetric analyses of the Web mainly serve as demonstrations of the applicability of informetric methods to this medium, and not as a means for obtaining definite conclusions. A possible solution is for the scientific world to develop its own search and data collection tools.
AB - We present different methods of data collection from the Web for informetric purposes. For each method, some studies utilizing it are reviewed, and advantages and shortcomings of each technique are discussed. The paper emphasizes that data collection must be carried out with great care. Since the Web changes constantly, the findings of any study are valid only in the time frame in which it was carried out, and are dependent on the quality of the data collection tools, which are usually not under the control of the researcher. At the current time, the quality and the reliability of most of the available search tools are not satisfactory, thus informetric analyses of the Web mainly serve as demonstrations of the applicability of informetric methods to this medium, and not as a means for obtaining definite conclusions. A possible solution is for the scientific world to develop its own search and data collection tools.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0002924746&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1023/A:1005682102768
DO - 10.1023/A:1005682102768
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AN - SCOPUS:0002924746
SN - 0138-9130
VL - 50
SP - 7
EP - 32
JO - Scientometrics
JF - Scientometrics
IS - 1
ER -