Size, age and productivity of scientific and technical research groups

J. Cohen

doi:10.1007/bf02019761

Jump to Content

Scientometrics

Volume/Issue:: Volume 20: Issue 3

Size, age and productivity of scientific and technical research groups

Author:

J. Cohen

J. Cohen The Rockefeller University 1230 York Avenue 10021-6399 New York NY (USA) 1230 York Avenue 10021-6399 New York NY (USA)

Search for other papers by J. Cohen in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

View More View Less

Pages:: 395–416

Online Publication Date:: 06 Aug 2005

Publication Date:: 26 Mar 1991

Article Category:: Research Article

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02019761

Restricted access

Abstract

Varied empirical studies show that the average output (measured in various ways) of a scientific or technical research group is directly proportional to its size (also measured in various ways), when the size and output are measured independently. Hence groups of different sizes have the same average output per unit of size. There is no reliable evidence for the existence of a size or a range of sizes for a research group that maximizes output per unit of size. Present theoretical explanations for the proportionality between size and output are largely inadequate or untested. Similarly, among reported results on group age and output, the only consistency so far is that age, measured as years since the founding or first functioning of the group, is uncorrelated with output per capita. Again, there is no evidence for the existence of an age or a range of ages for a research group that is optimal.

Save
Cite
Email this content

Share Link

Copy this link, or click below to email it to a friend
Email this content
or copy the link directly:

https://akjournals.com/abstract/journals/11192/20/3/article-p395.xml
The link was not copied. Your current browser may not support copying via this button.

Link copied successfully

Collapse
Expand

Scientometrics

Print ISSN:: 0138-9130

Online ISSN:: 1588-2861

To see the editorial board, please visit the website of Springer Nature.

Manuscript submission: http://www.editorialmanager.com/scim/

For subscription options, please visit the website of Springer Nature.

Scientometrics
Language	English
Size	B5
Year of Foundation	1978
Volumes per Year	1
Issues per Year	12
Founder	Akadémiai Kiadó
Founder's Address	H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
Publisher	Akadémiai Kiadó Springer Nature Switzerland AG
Publisher's Address	H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245. CH-6330 Cham, Switzerland Gewerbestrasse 11.
Responsible Publisher	Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN	0138-9130 (Print)
ISSN	1588-2861 (Online)