Bibliometrics, Scientometrics, Infometrics, and Librametrics: Shortcut for Scholars?

Cite this Article:

Abdullah, M. (October 2024). Bibliometrics, Scientometrics, Infometrics, and Librametrics. The Web-published English as a Foreign Language Instructional Media. Retreived October 05, 2024, from https://muhaiminabdullah.com/blog/bibliometrics-scientometrics-infometrics-librametrics

Bibliometrics, scientometrics, infometrics, and librametrics are analogous terms that represent measuring techniques in library and Information science that are mainly applied in solving various problems pertaining to library and Information sciences1. In Nowadays context, bibliometrics, scientometrics, infometrics, and librametrics are popularly opted by scholars and researchers as a shortcut to meet the demands for publication or to increase the quantity of academic journal publications, as well as to avoid field research processes that are time-consuming and exhausting. The statement is, of course, controversial and taboo to discuss openly. However, it has become a universal law of nature, carried out to alleviate the pressure of high publication demands.

Bibliometrics refers to the quantitative analysis of research literature, based upon citations, and can be used to evaluate the impact on the academic community of a research paper, an individual researcher, a research group or institution, or a journal. Librametry refers to a quantitative analysis of various facets of library activities; and library documents by application of mathematical and statistical calculus to seek solution to library problems. Scientometrics concerns with the quantitative features and characteristics of science and scientific research which the emphasis is placed on investigations in which the development and mechanism of science are studied by statistical mathematical methods. Infometrics refers to the study of quantitative aspects of information including the production dissemination and use of all forms of information, regardless of its form or origin2.

Bibliometrics is defined as the study and measurement of the publication patterns of all forms of written communication and their authors3.

Hystorically, scientometrics was led by such fundamental questions 'why should we not turn the tools of science on science itself?' and 'why not measure and generalize, make hypotheses, and derive conclusions?'4. Those questions have led how scientometrics are generated nowadays5.

Source: Synthesis and Elaboration


  1. 10.1515/libr.1992.42.2.75 ↩︎

  2. Sangam, S.L. (n.d.). Tools and Methods for Science Outputs Evaluation (Unit 1. Librametry, Bibliometrics, Scientometrics, Informetrics and Webometrics: Historical Development). Retrieved in October 1, 2024 from https://docslib.org/doc/8568439/unit-1-librametry-bibliometrics-scientometrics-informetrics-and-webometrics-historical-development ↩︎

  3. Potter, W. G. (1981). Introduction to bibliometrics. Lib. Trends 30, 5-7 ↩︎

  4. Price, D. D. (1963). Little Science, Big Science. New York: Columbia University Press. ↩︎

  5. 10.1002/meet.1450390103 ↩︎