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Growth cycles of knowledge

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Abstract

We have developed a way of describing the increase with time of the number of papers in a scientific field and apply it to a data base of about 2000 papers on symbolic logic published between 1666 and 1934. We find (a) a general exponential increase in the cumulative total number of papers, (b) oscillations around this due to the appearance of new ideas in the field and the time required for their full incorporation, and (c) exogenously caused fluctuations due to wars and other non-scientific events.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Astronomical Observatory, Jagiellonian University, Orla 171, 30-244, Kraków, Poland

    Marek Szydłowski

  2. Department of Theoretical Physics, Catholic University of Lublin, Al. Racławickie 14, 20-950, Lublin, Poland

    Marek Szydłowski

  3. Institute of Economics and Management, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 3, 30-387, Kraków, Poland

    Adam Krawiec

  4. Mark Kac Complex Systems Research Centre, Jagiellonian University, Reymonta 4, 31-059, Kraków, Poland

    Marek Szydłowski & Adam Krawiec

Authors
  1. Marek Szydłowski
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  2. Adam Krawiec
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Correspondence to Marek Szydłowski.

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Szydłowski, M., Krawiec, A. Growth cycles of knowledge. Scientometrics 78, 99–111 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-007-1958-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-007-1958-7

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