Abstract
This is to assess the applicability of the Bradford distribution to an international science-technology indicators problem. The Bradford distribution which has been empirically known to be valid for the number of scientific articles on a given research topic across journals is applied to the number of scientific articles in a given research field across nations. The Bradford distribution is herein found to provide information of the degree of scientific-technological inequitability between advanced and latecomer nations and, more characteristically, a method for classification of nations into core, middle and peripheral classes with respect to their S&T selfreliance. This may suggest the usefulness of the Bradford distribution for anylsis of international science-technology indicators. Some theoretical discussions on mathematical properties of the Bradford distribution are given.
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Eto, H., Candelaria, P.M. Applicability of the Bradford distribution to international science and technology indicators. Scientometrics 11, 27–42 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02016627
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02016627