The Evaluation of Research By Scientometric Indicators

10

Research contribution and share of credit of individual authors

Introduction

In modern natural sciences, teamwork is essential both in experimental and, although less pronounced, in theoretical topics (Wuchty et al., 2007). The number of researchers participating in a given research project is steadily increasing (Table 10.1). Investigations at large research facilities or major research topics requiring the contribution of experts from different fields often need the participation of some tens or even hundreds of researchers. Consequently, multiple authorship is a common phenomenon in modern science (Garvey, 1979).

Table 10.1

Number of authors by journal paper according to Lewison (1996)

A publication represents the intellectual property ...