Citation in science and approaches to the evaluation of scientific contributions

Abstract

The editorial board brings to your attention a reprint of the article by S. G. Kara-Murza, published in 1981. The author personally met and debated with the creator of the Science Citation Index Eugene Garfield: recognizing the importance of bibliometry for science studies, Sergey Georgievich defends the inadmissibility of using citation indexes to evaluate the scientific contribution of individual researchers and scientific organizations. It would require the fulfillment of a number of unrealizable conditions in practice so that the citation could not distort the scientific contribution. After four decades since the publication of the article, it must be recognized that the relevance of the problem has not exhausted itself. Measuring the effectiveness of scientists by formal quantitative parameters has taken root to the status of official for scientific reports, aggravated by the prioritization of journal articles in comparison with fundamental monographic works. Arguments have repeatedly been heard in the scientific community explaining the problematic nature of objective indicators for assessing the productivity and scientific significance and scientific potential of scientists, especially in the field of socio-humanitarian knowledge. The discussion on the introduction of quantitative methods for evaluating the effectiveness of scientists' work continues. In this regard, the editorial board of the journal considers it appropriate to invite our readers to familiarize themselves with the point of view set forth in the publication of the famous scientist S. G. Kara-Murza 40 years ago.

Keywords

• scientometrics
• citation index
• science evaluation
• science citation index