Robust parameterisation of ages of references in published research

The purpose of this research is to illustrate the use of the gamma distribution to model the ages of references in published research, and to demonstrate that the two gamma distribution parameters characterise a field of research in a manner that is complementary to and more nuanced than the Price Index or mean age of references.Minimum Distance Estimation is shown to produce robust estimates of the gamma distribution parameters because of the insensitivity of the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test in the tails of the distribution.Using a sample of 816 articles from 26 different journals across six subject areas, it is shown that the gamma distribution is at least as good as a lognormal distribution to model the ages of references in research articles.The two gamma distribution parameters indicate the rate of publication of new knowledge within the respective discipline and the citing behaviour in terms of the recency of references. Interpretation of these gamma distribution parameters enables a more nuanced and granular interpretation of the distinctiveness of disciplines, sub-disciplines, formats of publication and the distribution of references within articles than possible using the Price Index, half-life or mean age of references.