A sketch on the current debate on scientometrics and bibliometrics versus the forgotten science of science (in Polish)

• Main Author: Michał KOKOWSKI
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences 2015-12-01
• Series: Prace Komisji Historii Nauki PAU
• Subjects: scientometrics; bibliometrics; informetrics; methodology of scientometrics; abuses of scientometric methods; science of science; science policy; Polish and international context
• Online Access: http://pau.krakow.pl/PKHN-PAU/pkhn-pau-XIV-2015-7.pdf
• ISSN: 1731-6715; 2392-1749

In the debate on scientometrics and bibliometrics, taking place in Poland in the last 25 years, a very serious methodical and methodological mistake has been committed by neglecting the reflection about the science of science, especially of historical and methodological character. The following article discusses this issue. This aim was achieved with the use of a method of interdisciplinary research originating from the scope of the science of science and the history of the science of science. This method was applied to the analysis of selected major publications on scientometrics and bibliometrics in the past 25 years, with special emphasis on Polish context. The results are discussed in the article, i.e. a) the context of the current debate on scientometrics and bibliometrics in Poland; b) the history of Polish scientometric analyses based on foreign indexation databases; c) the current discussion on scientometrics and bibliometrics in Poland and d) the key aspect ignored in the current debate, namely the inseparable connection of scientometrics and bibliometrics with the science of science. The study leads to the following conclusions: it is postulated that the informetric (scientometric, bibliometric, Webometric, etc.) studies return to the scientific discourse, which would be consciously developed in the context of the integrated science of science. This knowledge should be utilized in the development of the current science policy, i.e. the organizational structure of science and higher education and the formation of rules of appraisal of scientific institutions, individual employees and scientific journals.