2. The Scientific Literature and Elements of Scientometrics

Why Do We Publish? If a tree falls in a forest, and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound? Day (1998) suggests this question as a starting point for students to understand the importance of publication in science. It is a good starting point, and most students’ first response is: “Yes, it does”. However, this immediate answer happens to be wrong. Few people notice first (although realise on reflection) that, by definition, sound is not equal to “pressure waves in the air”. When a t...