The role of case studies in recent paleopathological literature: An argument for continuing relevance

IF 1.3 3区地球科学 Q3 PALEONTOLOGY International Journal of Paleopathology Pub Date : 2022-09-01 DOI:10.1016/j.ijpp.2022.06.002

Alexis T. Boutin, C. Midori Longo, Rosemary Lehnhard

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引用次数: 1

Abstract

Objective

To critically examine the role that case studies play in recent paleopathological literature, by evaluating their frequency of publication, academic impact, and the public engagement they generate.

Materials

Articles published in International Journal of Paleopathology between 2011 and 2018 (N = 377).

Methods

Articles were coded as case studies, population studies, methodological studies, or reviews. Case studies were coded as cultural practices, differential diagnosis, historical, or methodological/theoretical. We utilized bibliometric analysis to assess academic impact and altmetric analysis to evaluate public engagement.

Results

Case studies continue to be the most frequently published, but least frequently cited, article type. There are no significant differences in public engagement data between article types. Methodological/theoretical case studies have the most academic impact. Differential diagnosis case studies have the least academic impact and generate the least public engagement.

Conclusions

The case study genre includes a variety of approaches, some of which hold significant potential for contributing to the discipline of paleopathology and beyond.

Significance

This study updates Mays’ (2012b) citation analysis, pioneers the use of altmetric data to analyze public engagement with paleopathological publications, and identifies less productive approaches and areas of heightened relevance in the case study genre.

Limitations

Publications in only one journal were analyzed. Only one source was utilized for citation data (Google Scholar) and one source for altmetric data (PlumX).

Suggestions for future research

Expanding the granular analysis of case studies piloted here to additional journals and/or citation indexes to enlarge the sample size and provide keener insights.

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案例研究在近期古病理学文献中的作用:持续相关性的论证

目的通过评估案例研究的发表频率、学术影响和公众参与度，批判性地审视案例研究在近期古病理学文献中所扮演的角色。2011年至2018年在《国际古病理学杂志》上发表的文章(N = 377)。方法文章被编码为案例研究、人口研究、方法研究或综述。案例研究被编码为文化实践、鉴别诊断、历史或方法/理论。我们使用文献计量分析来评估学术影响，使用替代计量分析来评估公众参与。结果案例研究仍然是发表频率最高，但被引用频率最低的文章类型。文章类型之间的公众参与数据没有显著差异。方法/理论案例研究最具学术影响力。鉴别诊断案例研究的学术影响最小，公众参与度最低。案例研究类型包括多种方法，其中一些方法对古病理学和其他学科具有重要的贡献潜力。本研究更新了Mays (2012b)的引文分析，开创了使用替代数据来分析公众对古病理学出版物的参与，并确定了案例研究类型中效率较低的方法和高度相关的领域。仅分析了一种期刊上的出版物。只有一个来源被用于引用数据(Google Scholar)和一个来源被用于替代数据(PlumX)。对未来研究的建议将案例研究的粒度分析扩展到其他期刊和/或引用索引，以扩大样本量并提供更敏锐的见解。

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来源期刊

International Journal of Paleopathology PALEONTOLOGY-PATHOLOGY

CiteScore

2.90

自引率

25.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： Paleopathology is the study and application of methods and techniques for investigating diseases and related conditions from skeletal and soft tissue remains. The International Journal of Paleopathology (IJPP) will publish original and significant articles on human and animal (including hominids) disease, based upon the study of physical remains, including osseous, dental, and preserved soft tissues at a range of methodological levels, from direct observation to molecular, chemical, histological and radiographic analysis. Discussion of ways in which these methods can be applied to the reconstruction of health, disease and life histories in the past is central to the discipline, so the journal would also encourage papers covering interpretive and theoretical issues, and those that place the study of disease at the centre of a bioarchaeological or biocultural approach. Papers dealing with historical evidence relating to disease in the past (rather than history of medicine) will also be published. The journal will also accept significant studies that applied previously developed techniques to new materials, setting the research in the context of current debates on past human and animal health.