Benchmarking scientific performance by decomposing leadership of Cuban and Latin American institutions in Public Health

This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Scientometrics. The final authenticated version is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11192-015-1831-z”.Comparative benchmarking with bibliometric indicators can be an aid in decision-making with regard to research management. This study aims to characterize scientific performance in a domain (Public Health) by the institutions of a country (Cuba), taking as reference world output and regional output (other Latin American centers) during the period 2003–2012. A new approach is used here to assess to what extent the leadership of a specific institution can change its citation impact. Cuba was found to have a high level of specialization and scientific leadership that does not match the low international visibility of Cuban institutions. This leading output appears mainly in non-collaborative papers, in national journals; publication in English is very scarce and the rate of international collaboration is very low. The Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kouri stands out, alone, as a national reference. Meanwhile, at the regional level, Latin American institutions deserving mention for their high autonomy in normalized citation would include Universidad de Buenos Aires (ARG), Universidade Federal de Pelotas (BRA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientı´ficas y Te´cnicas (ARG), Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (BRA) and the Centro de Pesquisas Rene Rachou (BRA). We identify a crucial aspect that can give rise to misinterpretations of data: a high share of leadership cannot be considered positive for institutions when it is mainly associated with a high proportion of non-collaborative papers and a very low level of performance. Because leadership might be questionable in some cases, we propose future studies to ensure a better interpretation of findings.This work was made possible through financing by the scholarship funds for international mobility between Andalusian and IberoAmerican Universities and the SCImago GroupPeer reviewe

Visibilidad e impacto de la producción científica Cubana sobre Estomatología, Scopus 1995-2017.

Aim: To identify the differences between Cuban scientific research published in highly visible journals and the rest of the national dental scientific output. Materials and Methods: A bibliometric analysis was conducted using 1995-2017 data from the Scopus data-base. The following search strategy was used: country (Cuba), subject area (dentistry), publication source (Journals), article type (Original Research, Review Article). Bibliometric indicators of output, visibility, leadership, collaboration and impact were examined. Result: 521 articles were published in 21 Journals, of which 20 are international and 13 are within the first quartile (Q1), led by Clinical Oral Implants Research. There was a prevalence of Spanish language publications, without collaboration, and in Revista Cubana de Estomatología. The Cuban scientific leadership significantly diminishes in the journals located in the highest visibility quartile (Q1) (p=0.0144). The high dependency of citation-based indicators, as well as international collaboration, in rela-tion to the journals’ quartile, was confirmed. Conclusion: The national scientific output in first quartile journals that has the biggest influence on the scientific international community is dependent on international collaboration to reach high levels of visibility and impact, and the national scientific output is not still able to systematically generate research that impacts in a significant way the scientific international community.Objetivo:Identificar las diferencias existentes entre la investigación que se publica en revistas de máxima visibilidad, y el resto de la producción científica cubana sobre Estomatología. Materiales and Métodos: Se realizó un análisis bibliométrico del período 1995-2017 utilizándose Scopus como fuente de datos. Se empleó la siguiente estrategia de búsqueda: país (Cuba), área temática (Dentistry), origen de los artículos (journals), tipos de artículos (originales y revisiones) y años de publicación (1995-2017). Se estudiaron indicadores bibliométricos de producción, visibilidad, liderazgo, colaboración e impacto. Resultados: Se publicaron 521 artículos en 21 revistas, de las cuales 20 son internacionales y 13 pertenecen al primer cuartil, encabezadas por Clinical Oral Implants Research. Existió predominio de la publicación en español, sin colaboración, en la Revista Cubana de Estomatología. En la medida en que las revistas se ubican en los cuartiles de mayor visibilidad disminuye significativamente el liderazgo científico cubano (p=0,0144). Se confirmó la alta dependencia de los indicadores basados en análisis de citaciones, así como de la colaboración internacional, en relación con el cuartil de las revistas. Conclusión: La producción científica nacional en revistas del primer cuartil es la que ejerce mayor influencia sobre la comunidad científica internacional, depende de la colaboración internacional para alcanzar altos niveles de visibilidad e impacto, y aún no es capaz de generar sistemáticamente investigaciones que impacten de manera significativa sobre la comunidad científica internacional

Follow the leader : on the relationship between leadership and scholarly impact in international collaborations

National contributions to science are influenced by a number of factors, including economic capacity, national scientific priorities, science policy, and institutional settings and cultures. Nations do not have equal opportunities to access the global scientific market, and therefore, often seek out international partners with complementary resources and expertise. This study aims at investigating national collaboration strategies, with a focus on research leadership—measured through corresponding authorship—and its relationship with scientific impact. Results show that countries with higher R&D investments are more scientifically independent, and confirm that international collaboration is positively related to citation impact. However, leadership in international collaboration is inversely related with a countries’ share of international collaboration and there is a very little relationship between citation impact and international leadership. For instance, most countries—and particularly those that have fewer resources—have higher scientific impact when they are not leading. This suggests that, despite increasing global participation in science, most international collaborations are asymmetrical, and that the research system remains structured around a few dominate nations

How to Combine Research Guarantor and Collaboration Patterns to Measure Scientific Performance of Countries in Scientific Fields: Nanoscience and Nanotechnology as a Case Study

This paper presents a comparative benchmarking of scientometric indicators to characterize the patterns of publication and research performance at the country level, in a specific field (nanoscience and nanotechnology) during the period 2003–2013. The aim was to assess how decisive collaboration may be in attaining a sound level of scientific performance, and how important leadership is for publication. To this end, we used a new methodological approach that contributes to the debate about scientific autonomy or dependency of countries in their scientific performance, and which may serve as an aid in decision-making with regard to research management. The results reveal that in terms of output, USA and China are the main producers; and due to the huge increase in their publications, Iran, India, and Australia can be considered emerging countries. The results highlight USA, Ireland, and Singapore as the countries with the highest levels of normalized citation impact, scientific excellence, and good management of leadership, all of which suggest strong scientific development and scientific autonomy. Also worth mentioning is the high visibility and scientific consolidation of China and Australia, despite the meager growth of their output. Moreover, the performance results indicate that in most cases the countries whose pattern of publication is more international tend to have greater visibility. Yet, a high degree of leadership does not always translate as a high performance level; the contrary is often true. Due to the limitations of the sample and characteristics of the field, we propose that future studies evaluate the generation of new knowledge in this field and refine the approach presented here, so as to better measure scientific performance.Projects I + D + I, State Programme of Research, Development and Innovation oriented to the Challenges of the Society: NANOMETRICS (Ref. CSO2014-57770-R) supported by Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad of Spain.Peer reviewedPeer Reviewe

Dependencies and autonomy in research performance: examining nanoscience and nanotechnology in emerging countries

International collaboration in the creation of knowledge is changing the structural stratification of science, with implications for science policy. Analyses of collaboration in developing and emergent countries are of particular significance because initiatives are often the result of “research-for-aid” arrangements, generally based on North–South asymmetries. However, collaboration for mutual benefit and excellence has gained increasing acceptance, with “partner” selection becoming a strategic priority to enhance one’s own production. This article explores the capacity of BRIC and select Latin American countries in the generation of scientific knowledge and their visibility at the global level in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology. The goal is to determine to what extent countries benefit from the role of their collaborators to heighten research performance in terms of citation; and how collaboration could help countries to leverage their competitiveness through the design of research and development agendas. The method relies on the decomposition of leadership, as well as its consideration in view of performance indicators such as normalized citation impact, scientific excellence, and technological impact. The results suggest that the growth of international collaboration should be interpreted as a positive aspect. Furthermore, a progressive internationalization of scientific activity concerned with local needs or topics of interest is found to have the capacity to determine research agendas whose interest would extend to communities far beyond, thereby contributing to the development of science at a national level.Instituto de Investigaciones en Humanidades y Ciencias Sociale

La investigación sobre Ciencias de la Información en Cuba: flujos del conocimiento durante el período 2005-2019

Objective. To characterize the Cuban research on Information Sciences, and to analyze the flows of knowledge between its intellectual base and the research fronts influenced by Cuban researchers. Design/Methodology/Approach. The subject category “Information Science and Library Science” from Web of Science, during the period 2005-2019, was studied. The intellectual base was determined by author co-citation analysis. Citing articles of Cuban authors were analyzed by bibliographic coupling and term co-occurrence techniques. A documental analysis of bibliometric studies on the discipline in Cuba was developed. Results/Discussion. The diversification of the topics discussed overtime was verified, which have been in correspondence with social needs. A sustained increase in scientific production was observed, based on collaboration and intense postgraduate training. A greater number of journals were used to disseminate the results, which were cited from multiple knowledge areas. Conclusions. The communicating vessels between the intellectual base and influenced research fronts evidenced the appropriation of foreign and Cuban referents in the disciplinary constructive process, their growing influence on the global scientific community, and the configuration of a cognitive space of disciplinary confluence between Library Science, Information Science, Archival Science, and Social Communication, closely connected with the thematic axes that lead global research. Originality/Value. An exhaustive documentary review, combined with bibliometric techniques, allowed the thematic characterization and analysis of the evolution of Cuban informational thinking during the last 15 years (2005-2019), in relation to its regional and global context.Objetivo: Se analiza el pensamiento informacional generado en Cuba, para caracterizar los flujos del conocimiento que se manifiestan entre su base intelectual y los frentes de investigación donde ha logrado influir. Diseño/Metodología/Enfoque: Se estudió la categoría “Information Science and Library Science” del Web of Science, durante el período 2005-2019. Scopus, Library & Information Science Source, Library & Information Science Abstract y SciELO Citation Index fueron utilizadas con fines comparativos. La base intelectual y los frentes de investigación se determinaron mediante co-citación de autores y co-ocurrencia de términos. Los artículos que citan autores cubanos se analizaron también mediante acoplamiento bibliográfico. Se realizó un análisis documental de los estudios métricos sobre la disciplina en Cuba. Resultados/Discusión: Se observó el incremento sostenido de la producción científica, basada en la colaboración y la intensa formación postgradual. Las temáticas se diversificaron, en correspondencia con las necesidades sociales. Se utilizó un mayor número de revistas para difundir los resultados, los cuales fueron citados desde múltiples áreas del conocimiento. Conclusiones: Los vasos comunicantes entre base intelectual y frentes de investigación, evidenciaron la apropiación de referentes foráneos y cubanos en el proceso constructivo disciplinario, su creciente influencia sobre la comunidad científica global, y la configuración de un espacio cognoscitivo de confluencia disciplinaria entre Bibliotecología, Ciencia de la información, Archivología y Comunicación Social. Originalidad/Valor: Una exhaustiva revisión documental, combinada con técnicas bibliométricas, permitió la caracterización temática y el análisis de la evolución del pensamiento informacional cubano durante los últimos 15 años, en relación con su contexto regional y mundial

Eficacia de la terapia de aceptación y compromiso sobre la depresión en pacientes adultos

La depresión es un trastorno limitante que impone una carga socio-económica y emocional en pacientes y la sociedad en general. Desde el enfoque cognitivo-conductual, la depresión se concibe como el resultado de pensamientos irracionales, llevando a las personas a percibir la realidad de un modo idiosincrático y distorsionando su percepción. La terapia de aceptación y compromiso (ACT) ha ganado interés en la psicología clínica para el tratamiento de la depresión. ACT busca que los pacientes aprendan a reconceptualizar los estímulos evitados de una manera adaptativa. El objetivo del siguiente estudio de revisión fue identificar la eficacia de la terapia de aceptación y compromiso para el tratamiento de la depresión en adultos. Para ello, se realizó una búsqueda en las bases de datos Scopus y EBSCOhost. Se eligieron para analizar estudios que cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión y exclusión (n = 7). Se encontraron diferencias en cuanto a los resultados, aunque hubo en su mayoría un gran tamaño del efecto respecto de la eficacia de ACT sobre la depresión. Los resultados indican que ACT es efectiva para el tratamiento de la depresión en adultos, siendo confiable para la disminución de síntomas depresivos y un aumento en la calidad de vida.Depression is a limiting disorder that imposes a socio-economic and emotional burden on patients and society in general. From the cognitive-behavioral approach, depression is conceived as the result of irrational thoughts, leading people to perceive reality in an idiosyncratic way and distorting their perception. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) has gained interest in clinical psychology for the treatment of depression. ACT seeks that patients learn to re-conceptualize avoided stimuli in an adaptive way. The aim of the following review was to identify the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy for the treatment of depression in adults. For this, a search was carried out in the Scopus and EBSCOhost databases. Studies that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria (n = 7) were chosen to analyze. Differences were found in terms of results, although there was mostly a large effect size regarding the efficacy of ACT on depression. The results indicate that ACT is effective for the treatment of depression in adults, being reliable for the reduction of depressive symptoms and an increase in the quality of life

Congress UPV Proceedings of the 21ST International Conference on Science and Technology Indicators

This is the book of proceedings of the 21st Science and Technology Indicators Conference that took place in València (Spain) from 14th to 16th of September 2016. The conference theme for this year, ‘Peripheries, frontiers and beyond’ aimed to study the development and use of Science, Technology and Innovation indicators in spaces that have not been the focus of current indicator development, for example, in the Global South, or the Social Sciences and Humanities. The exploration to the margins and beyond proposed by the theme has brought to the STI Conference an interesting array of new contributors from a variety of fields and geographies. This year’s conference had a record 382 registered participants from 40 different countries, including 23 European, 9 American, 4 Asia-Pacific, 4 Africa and Near East. About 26% of participants came from outside of Europe. There were also many participants (17%) from organisations outside academia including governments (8%), businesses (5%), foundations (2%) and international organisations (2%). This is particularly important in a field that is practice-oriented. The chapters of the proceedings attest to the breadth of issues discussed. Infrastructure, benchmarking and use of innovation indicators, societal impact and mission oriented-research, mobility and careers, social sciences and the humanities, participation and culture, gender, and altmetrics, among others. We hope that the diversity of this Conference has fostered productive dialogues and synergistic ideas and made a contribution, small as it may be, to the development and use of indicators that, being more inclusive, will foster a more inclusive and fair world