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Toward a definition of “bibliometrics”

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Abstract

The definitions of the term ‘bibliometrics’ as used in the literature are examined and evaluated. Most such definitions are held to be too broad. A new definition is proposed; then its advantages and possible defects pointed out. A crucial question is whether Zipf's law of word occurrence should be considered a part of this particular sub-discipline.

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Broadus, R.N. Toward a definition of “bibliometrics”. Scientometrics 12, 373–379 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02016680

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