Paradigm shifts. Part II. Reverse Transcriptase. Analysis of reference stability and word frequencies
This research provides insights into how scientific discoveries disrupt established fields, specifically in virology, though it is incremental in applying existing bibliometric methods to a historical case.
The study analyzed the paradigm shift in RNA tumor virus research following the 1970 discovery of reverse transcriptase, using co-citation and title word frequency analysis to show it was associated with a break in citation patterns and the emergence of new technical terms.
The reverse transcription paradigm shift in RNA tumor virus research marked by the discovery of the reverse transcriptase in 1970 was traced using co-citation and title word frequency analysis. It is shown that this event is associated with a break in citation patterns and the occurrence of previously unknown technical terms.