The Scientometry as a scientific field

Abstract

Explores the possibility that both the elite of authors as those who are at research front in the area of Lotka’s law, are there as a consequence of their position in the field of bibliometrics. To achieve this purpose we adopted the concepts of "habitus", "capital cultural", "field", and "theory of practice", developed by Pierre Bourdieu. When analyzing the formation of the elite and the research front from the perspective of the position occupied by authors, it appears that explanatory variable is the fact that authors devote themselves to teaching, as professor in some univeristies as well as to be part of the editorial board of an academic journal, director of a information center, or leader in an association or professional organization. Those varibales grants visibility, prestige and authority in the area, therefore, likely to be cited. From the perspective of the habitus of the authors in the field of bibliometrics, it was found that having obtained the academic degree of doctor who, somehow ensures the mastery of matrices that make it possible to have familiarity with the doxa of the area, as well as being trained in the secrets of statistical and mathematical scientometric explain the success in the field.