Theory Method and Principle of Metrics Science

Measurement is an integral part of modern science. This paper proposed a comprehensive statistical overview of the terms librametrics, bibliometrics, scientometrics, informetrics, webometrics and knowledgometrics refer to fields related to the study of the dynamics of disciplines as reflected in the production of their literature. These terms are used to describe similar and overlapping methodologies. The origins, historical survey, scope, application and development of each of these terms are presented in this study. Several method and principles of metrics studies have been discussed. Finally paper concluded that the main research areas of each stage concentrated on the major topic like citation analysis has been a core research area during every stage; research interest has shifted from theoretical research to applied aspect; visualization methods and scientific mapping have attracted more and more attention and will become a main research area of scientometrics. The inclusion of webometrics expands the field of bibliometrics, as webometrics inevitably will contribute to further methodological developments of web-specific approaches and knowledgometrics adds new concept to the field.