A problem with statistical studies like this one is that - by producing great clouds of numbers - they make it difficult for readers to find answers to apparently simple questions without digesting the entire study. Thus, we here present some summary questions and answers supported by this study.
Q. How many research contributions has UTIG produced since 1972?
Between 1972 and April 1998, UTIG students and staff have contributed 1024 publications to the UTIG contribution list. If we 'normalize' this and give only partial credit for co-authorship - thus accounting for the fact that non-UTIG scientists are often first or coauthors on CL publications - we find that UTIG staff and students are responsible for 697 contributions. Since 1984 the contribution list has grown at a rate of about 50 contributions/year, and 33 'normalized' contributions/year.
In this study, the significance of statistics concerning 'proceedings' and 'archival' publications is questionable. This is because publications only become part of the CL if they are submitted; and, while some UTIG scientists submit extended abstracts, chapters in technical reports, etc., others do not. We believe that many such publications by UTIG scientists exist which were never submitted to the CL.
Q. What proportion of UTIG's research is attributable to students?
Students are first authors on about one sixth of all UTIG contributions, and their 'normalized' contributions are also about one sixth of the UTIG staff and student total (Table A.I.1 and Table A.I.2). Since 1984 the proportion is slightly higher, or about one fifth. Citation statistics provide similar results; citations to student-authored or -coauthored papers are about one-quarter of the UTIG staff and student total, while normalized citations are one sixth of the total.
Q. How many research contributions are in refereed journals?
A reasonable assumption is that publications classified as 'mainstream' and 'archival' publications are refereed, while those in the 'other', 'proceedings', 'tech. rept.', and 'comments' categories are not. Of the 1024 UTIG staff and student contributions, 809 or 79% are classified as 'mainstream' or 'archival'.
Q. What proportion of UTIG contributions receive citations in SCI?
This study can't really answer this since we only evaluated citations in SCI from 1993-1997; thus, we have no information about citations between 1972 and 1992. Moreover, very recent articles may ultimately receive citations in 1998 or subsequently; obviously we have no information about this. However, 515 of the 1024 UTIG staff and student contributions (about half) received one or more citations between 1993 and 1997. Of the contributions in 'mainstream' journals, 321 of 438 (73%) were cited one or more times between 1993 and 1997.
Q. What are the most cited papers on the UTIG contribution list?
As explained above, we don't have citation information from 1972-1992 to answer this question properly. However, one paper.(#866, an Ian Dalziel 1991 paper in Geology) has received 124 citations; six others have received more than 50 (Table A.I.11)
Q. Do publication rates reliably predict future research productivity?
Not really (see Figure V.B.1). Most current UTIG senior scientists had publication rates early in their careers that are similar to their subsequent rates. However, some individuals who ultimately left UTIG began their UT tenure with a steady publication rates, and then subsequently they 'lost it'. Thus, a reasonable early-career publication rate is not a sure predictor of future rates.
Van Hooydonk, G. Fractional counting of multiauthored publications: Consequences for the impact of authors, J. Amer. Soc. Information Sci, 48, 944-945, 1997.
Bates, R. L., M. D. Adkins-Heljeson and R. C. Buchanan. Geowriting, American Geological Institute, Alexandria, Virginia, 138 pp., 1995.
Garfield, E. Citation Indexing - Its Theory and Application in Science, Technology and Literature, Philadelphia, ISI Press, 274 pp., 1983.