TL;DR
This paper critiques the misuse of mathematical operations in informetrics, arguing that ignoring proper order of operations leads to pseudo-scientific conclusions in citation analysis.
Contribution
It highlights the importance of correct mathematical procedures in informetrics and criticizes recent claims that dismiss the relevance of operation order in citation metrics.
Findings
Incorrect application of order of operations in citation analysis
Critique of CWTS's methodology as pseudo-science
Emphasis on the need for rigorous mathematical standards
Abstract
Two papers have been archived to which this letter is complementary: 1) Opthof and Leydesdorff arxiv:1002.2769 2) Van Raan et al. arxiv:1003.2113 Van Raan at all claims that the order of operations (first dividing then adding) does not apply to citation analysis. In my contribution I discuss a few analogues in Physics and Medicine and argue that in no other field of science where quantities have physical or financial meaning, implying that that numbers have a real unit of measure, it would be allowed to ignore the rule of operations. Hence, the claim of CWTS that the order of operations is not relevant brings studies ignoring this rule as done by CWTS in the category 'Pseudo Science'.
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