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The evidence of systematic noise in non-patent references: A study of New Zealand companies’ patents

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  • Zi-Lin He

    (University of Otago)

  • Min Deng

    (University of Otago)

Abstract

Since the pioneering studies of Carpenter & Narin (1983), and Narin & Noma (1985), non-patent references (NPRs) in patent documents have been widely used as an indicator of science-technology links. Meyer (2000) reviewed previous work in the patent citation literature and found that citation links between patents and papers are, if not explicitly, at least implicitly viewed as an indication of the contribution of science to technology. Using a sample of 850 patents of New Zealand companies granted by the USPTO between 1976 and 2004, we find evidence of systematic noise in NPR data. We suggest that future research should pay close attention to heterogeneity among countries, and that one should demonstrate more caution in applying and interpreting results based on the NPR methodology.

Suggested Citation

  • Zi-Lin He & Min Deng, 2007. "The evidence of systematic noise in non-patent references: A study of New Zealand companies’ patents," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 72(1), pages 149-166, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:72:y:2007:i:1:d:10.1007_s11192-007-1702-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-007-1702-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Julie Callaert & Joris Grouwels & Bart Looy, 2012. "Delineating the scientific footprint in technology: Identifying scientific publications within non-patent references," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 91(2), pages 383-398, May.
    2. Jee, Su Jung & Kwon, Minji & Ha, Jung Moon & Sohn, So Young, 2019. "Exploring the forward citation patterns of patents based on the evolution of technology fields," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 13(4).

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