Course Outline

Instructor:

Dr. Dangzhi Zhao
Office: 3-13 Rutherford South
Phone: (780) 492-2814
Email: dzhao at ualberta dot ca
Web: http://www.ualberta.ca/~dzhao/

Office hours: by appointment; further arrangements to be discussed in class

Calendar Description:

An examination of theory and techniques of citation analysis as well as its practical applications in various areas (e.g., information services, knowledge discovery, research evaluation).

Objectives:

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

1. Discuss the nature of citation analysis;
2. Evaluate citation data sources;
3. Use major techniques and tools by which citation data are collected and processed;
4. Discuss the types of information that can be extracted from citation data, and the applications in which it is used;
5. Apply citation analysis in information services, knowledge discovery, and research evaluation.

Content:

• Foundations of citation analysis
  
• Citation analysis and information retrieval
• Citation analysis for the evaluation of research performance
• Citation analysis for the assessment of library resources
• Mapping research fields through citation networks
  
• Tracking knowledge flows and the difusion of ideas
• Analysis of innovation through patent citation analysis
  
• Data sources for citation analysis: Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, and more
• Visualization of citation networks
• Tools for citation analysis
  
• Analysis of Web links and the social Web
• Issues (e.g., controversies surrounding university rankings)

Methods:

Lectures, seminar discussions, work with difference citation databases and tools, small group work, student presentations.

Course Relationships:

LIS 501 & 502 are pre- or co-requisites.

Students outside of the MLIS program are encouraged to inquire about special permission to take this course.

Recording of lectures

Recording of lectures is permitted only with the prior written consent of the professor or if recording is part of an approved accommodation plan.

Inclusive Language & Equity:

The Faculty of Education is committed to providing an environment of equality and respect for all people within the university community, and to educating faculty, staff and students in developing teaching and learning contexts that are welcoming to all. The Faculty recommends that students and staff use inclusive language to create a classroom atmosphere in which students’ experiences and views are treated with equal respect and value in relation to their gender, racial background, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds. Students who require accommodations in this course due to a disability affecting mobility, vision, hearing, learning, or mental or physical health are advised to discuss their needs with Specialized Support and Disability Services.

Academic Integrity:

The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at http://www.ualberta.ca/secretariat/appeals.htm) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.

*Policy about course outlines can be found in Section 23.4(2) of the University Calendar.