CYBERMETRICS'99 (COLIMA, MEXICO)
After the Seventh International Conference on Scientometrics and Informetrics that took place in University of Colima, Colima, Mexico, on July 9th 1999, the following post conference Seminar was celebrated:
CYBERMETRICS'99 (Colima, July 9, 1999)Moderator: Isidro F. Aguillo (Editor: Cybermetrics -
Electronic Journal)
Agenda
09:30 Presentation and proposal for a research agenda for cybermetric studies
10:00 "How to Keep a Virtual Library Active".
Mannina, B. , Quoniam, L. & Rostaing, H.
10:20 Time evolution of the number of hits in keyword searches on the Internet
Rousseau, R.
Summary: This presentation reports on
work in progress. Its aim is to study the time evolution of the number
of hits for certain keywords. It is investigated if the introduction of
the Euro as the European currency on January 1, 1999 has had an effect
on the use of the words "euro" and "euroland" on the
Internet.
Since October 1998 the author performs a number of single-word searches
on the Net, using AltaVista advanced search (count on), AltaVista advanced
search (count off) and Excite (home). Each week the same keywords are
used. These keywords include the words "euro", "euroland",
"franc", "gulden", "peseta", "saxophone*"
and "trumpet*".
Instead of the expected steady increase in absolute numbers, time series
show sometimes an irregular behaviour. Yet, by and large the relative
use of the words "euro" and especially "euroland"
have increased. Although, according to AltaVista’s helpdesk ‘count
on’ should decrease the total number of hits, this was not always
the case. Excite’s results are clearly more stable than AltaVista’s.
In absolute numbers, however, Excite’s number of hits was only about
30% of AltaVista’s.
The effect we were searching for, namely an increase of the relative use
of the word ‘euro’, was observed. Yet, results of search engines
such as AltaVista are too irregular for reliable counts. When a one-year
period is over, we will re-analyse the time series, using statistical
and signal processing tools.
10:40 Tracing agents and other automatic sampling procedures for the World Wide Web
Aguillo, I. F.11:00 "Evaluation of Internet Resources: Bibliometric Techniques Applications".
Rostaing, H. , Boutin, E. & Mannina, B.11:20 Questions and debate
We wish to thank the extraordinary co-operation of Dr. Cesar A. Macías-Chapula and his team in the organisation of this event.
