Bibliometricians strive for linearity!

In library science, the goal is to discover a new, subtle but powerful linearity underlying the data. This is the world encountered by David Andrich and Michael Linacre when they presented Rasch-based papers at the Fourth International Conference on Bibliometrics, Informetrics and Scientometrics, held in Berlin, Germany in September 1993.

Dr. Hildrun Kretschmer, the force behind the Conference, discovered Rasch analysis during her visits to library scientists Abe Bookstein and Don Swanson at the University of Chicago. Our common concern for linear measures made us "birds of a feather who flock together" - a maxim that has become one of Dr. Kretschmer's guiding tenets!

Michael Linacre's paper recounted the importance of linearity in measurement and the principles underlying the Rasch model. Though the model itself was new to the audience, he soon found he was "preaching to the choir." For, ever since the work of Derek De Solla Price, library scientists have realized that it is only when trends and patterns in the data have been expressed in linear form, that the data can be understood or become the basis for prediction. Price did this with trends in the history of science. His findings (1961, 1963) have become scientific lore, e.g., "90% of all scientists who ever lived are alive today", together with concepts such as "invisible colleges".

David Andrich struck a resonant note with his warning that arbitrary combining or splitting of rating scale categories damages the measurement properties, and so the meaning, of the variable underlying the data. This accords with a dictum of the most influential library scientist, Eugene Garfield, originator of the Social Sciences Citation Index bibliographic database, "May we respectfully caution against the serious implication that quantitative data [counts and ratings] can be used without considered qualitative judgments" (Essays of an Information Scientist, Vol. 1, 1977, p.120).

Library scientists examine their data to discover underlying linear patterns in behavior such as book borrowing frequency, paper co-authorship recurrence, and journal citations. Their dedication in this endeavor is an object lesson yet to be learned by social scientists for whom the maxim "if it seems numerical, then it must be linear" suffices.

John Michael Linacre

Bibliometricians strive for linearity. Linacre JM. Rasch Measurement Transactions 1993 7:3 p.313


Bibliometricians strive for linearity. Linacre JM. … Rasch Measurement Transactions, 1993, 7:3 p.313



Rasch Publications
Rasch Measurement Transactions (free, online) Rasch Measurement research papers (free, online) Probabilistic Models for Some Intelligence and Attainment Tests, Georg Rasch Applying the Rasch Model 3rd. Ed., Bond & Fox Best Test Design, Wright & Stone
Rating Scale Analysis, Wright & Masters Introduction to Rasch Measurement, E. Smith & R. Smith Introduction to Many-Facet Rasch Measurement, Thomas Eckes Invariant Measurement: Using Rasch Models in the Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences, George Engelhard, Jr. Statistical Analyses for Language Testers, Rita Green
Rasch Models: Foundations, Recent Developments, and Applications, Fischer & Molenaar Journal of Applied Measurement Rasch models for measurement, David Andrich Constructing Measures, Mark Wilson Rasch Analysis in the Human Sciences, Boone, Stave, Yale
in Spanish: Análisis de Rasch para todos, Agustín Tristán Mediciones, Posicionamientos y Diagnósticos Competitivos, Juan Ramón Oreja Rodríguez

To be emailed about new material on www.rasch.org
please enter your email address here:

I want to Subscribe: & click below
I want to Unsubscribe: & click below

Please set your SPAM filter to accept emails from Rasch.org

www.rasch.org welcomes your comments:

Your email address (if you want us to reply):

 

ForumRasch Measurement Forum to discuss any Rasch-related topic

Go to Top of Page
Go to index of all Rasch Measurement Transactions
AERA members: Join the Rasch Measurement SIG and receive the printed version of RMT
Some back issues of RMT are available as bound volumes
Subscribe to Journal of Applied Measurement

Go to Institute for Objective Measurement Home Page. The Rasch Measurement SIG (AERA) thanks the Institute for Objective Measurement for inviting the publication of Rasch Measurement Transactions on the Institute's website, www.rasch.org.

Coming Rasch-related Events
Jan. 25 - March 8, 2023, Wed..-Wed. On-line course: Introductory Rasch Analysis (M. Horton, RUMM2030), medicinehealth.leeds.ac.uk
Apr. 11-12, 2023, Tue.-Wed. International Objective Measurement Workshop (IOMW) 2023, Chicago, IL. iomw.net
June 23 - July 21, 2023, Fri.-Fri. On-line workshop: Practical Rasch Measurement - Further Topics (E. Smith, Winsteps), www.statistics.com
Aug. 11 - Sept. 8, 2023, Fri.-Fri. On-line workshop: Many-Facet Rasch Measurement (E. Smith, Facets), www.statistics.com

 

The URL of this page is www.rasch.org/rmt/rmt73k.htm

Website: www.rasch.org/rmt/contents.htm