About the Scientometrics Department

One of the fields that has emerged in recent decades based on scientific changes and developments is the field of scientometrics. Scientometrics is the technique of statistical and quantitative analysis of scientific texts and is one of the most common methods of evaluating scientific activities and research management. Quantitative examination of scientific productions, scientific policy-making, scientific communication of scholars, and drawing a map of science are some of the topics of this field. In scientometrics, scientific communication and methods of production, dissemination, and utilization of scientific information are evaluated indirectly and by examining their sources and references. Internationally recognized citation indexes such as ISI, Scopus, and Google Scholar are considered scientometric tools. Today, the production of science is a priority for the development of every country, and scientific development is a prelude to technological development and, consequently, an increase in economic prosperity and social welfare.

   In this regard, universities, as the main bases of science production, play a fundamental role in the development of the country. In order to raise the quality and quantity of scientific production, it seems necessary to evaluate the research system in every university. The importance and necessity of evaluating researchers and scientific-research centers has led to the formation of scientometrics. Despite the long history of citation studies, scientometrics in its current form is a product of industrial and modern societies and emerged with the increase in the volume of scientific publications and some economic and historical necessities in the 1970s. 

Objectives of Scientometrics

• Formulating scientific and research policies and strategies
• Studying scientific communication and citation analysis
• Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of scientific resources and publications using international indicators, and enabling their comparison
• Examining scientific output, productivity/performance, and impact
• Optimal utilization of existing research facilities and capacities
• Establishing a balance between research budgets and expenditures
• Examining indicators of scientific growth and development (research and development indicators, human resources, patent registrations, the balance of science commercialization and technology contracts, as well as structural, functional, financial indicators, etc.)
• Discovering existing relationships and patterns among scientists, research fields, countries, and related entities
• Accurate evaluation and ranking of researchers, institutions, countries, academic journals, specialized fields, and related entities
• Measuring and evaluating scientific innovations
• Scientific collaboration and participation, co-authorship networks, and the examination of various forms of scientific misconduct and plagiarism
• Identifying priority scientific fields in leading countries and comparing them with competing countries in order to formulate appropriate strategic plans
• Contributing to scientific foresight and future studies worldwide