Advanced research methods and techniques in scientific evaluation and higher education

Experience in statistical methodology

Mónica Benito

Joan Crespo

María Rosario López

Obtaining quantitative indicators to assess the impact of gender on health. Can be applied to other areas such as research or institutions, etc.
Designing of surveys and sampling designs.
Using different multivariate analysis techniques:
- Factor analysis to obtain indicators (scores) through extensive surveys rather than intensive surveys in order to improve the quality of information.
- Correspondence analysis to determine profiles or groups through quantitative information and categorical variables.
- Multivariate regression models (linear, logistic and Cox regression) to model the relationship between variables in different contexts (quantitative, categorical or time dependent).
Using different statistical software (mainly SPSS and SAS).

Rosario Romera

Areas of research

Mathematical models which explain the process of citation: Axioms / alternatives to the so-called “Matthew effect”.
Create a dynamic model of social networks that satisfactorily explain the distribution of citations.
To study citation speed in different areas.
To study the distribution of citations.
To design contrasts for such distributions, e.g., lognormal, exponential, etc.
To identify priority fields on science (cluster analysis of data).
Development of university rankings, in particular “Statistical methods for building Composite indicators” as a strategic tool for universities.
When and how mathematics, physics and / or economic theory enters into the applied area? A “survival” model designed to measure how long an article on theory takes to be cited by an academic article in the applied area. A comparative study of academic journals is proposed as well as an analysis of their progress over a given period of time.
Development of descriptive measures to compare the scientific production of different institutions.

Projects, publications

The measurement of the effect on citation inequality of differences in citation practices across scientific fields” (J. Crespo, Y Li and J Ruiz-Castillo). PLoS ONE, to appear (2013). DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0058727
The citation merit of scientific publications” (J. Crespo, I. Ortuño-Ortin and J. Ruiz-Castillo) PLoS ONE, 7(11): e49156, (2012). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0049156
“The Skewness of Science in 219 sub-fields and a number of aggregates” (J. Crespo, P. Albarran, I. Ortuño-Ortin and J Ruiz-Castillo) Scientometrics, 88 (2) 388-397, (2011). DOI: 10.1007/s11192-011-0407-9
“A comparison of the scientific performance of the U. S. and the European Union and the turn of the XXI century” (J. Crespo, P. Albarran, I. Ortuño-Ortin and J Ruiz-Castillo) Scientometrics, 85 (1) 329-344, (2010). DOI:10.1007/s11192-010-0223-7
“Improving quality assessment of composite indicators in university rankings: a case study of French and German universities of excellence” (M. Benito and R. Romera) Scientometrics, 89:153–176 (2011). DOI 10.1007/s11192-011-0419-5
“Modeling the enrollment demand of masters programs for the Spanish public university system” (M. Benito and R. Romera) Scientometrics, 91, 113-130, (2012). http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs11192-011-0593-5
“Improving quality of university rankings” (M. Benito and R. Romera) BEIO, 28 (2), 99-109 (2012). http://www.seio.es/BEIO/Improving-quality-of-university-rankings.html

Line structure

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