Practical potentials of Bradford's law: a critical examination of the received view.

Nicolaisen, Jeppe and Hjørland, Birger (2007) Practical potentials of Bradford's law: a critical examination of the received view. . Journal of Documentation 63(3): 359-377.

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Abstract

Literature studies reveal that the concept of “subject” has never been explicitly addressed in relation to Bradford’s law. The results of two empirical tests (Bradford analyses) demonstrate that different operationalizations of the concept of “subject” produce quite different lists of core-journals. Further, an empirical test reveals that Bradford analyses function discriminatorily against minority views. The paper questions one of the old dogmas of the field. The implication is that Bradford analysis can no longer be regarded as an objective and neutral method. The received view on Bradford’s law needs to be revised.

EPrint Type:	Journal Article (Paginated)
Subjects:	Bibliometrics
ID Code:	2123
Deposited On:	08 January 2008
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