810 research outputs found

    A New Approach to Analyzing Patterns of Collaboration in Co-authorship Networks - Mesoscopic Analysis and Interpretation

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    This paper focuses on methods to study patterns of collaboration in co-authorship networks at the mesoscopic level. We combine qualitative methods (participant interviews) with quantitative methods (network analysis) and demonstrate the application and value of our approach in a case study comparing three research fields in chemistry. A mesoscopic level of analysis means that in addition to the basic analytic unit of the individual researcher as node in a co-author network, we base our analysis on the observed modular structure of co-author networks. We interpret the clustering of authors into groups as bibliometric footprints of the basic collective units of knowledge production in a research specialty. We find two types of coauthor-linking patterns between author clusters that we interpret as representing two different forms of cooperative behavior, transfer-type connections due to career migrations or one-off services rendered, and stronger, dedicated inter-group collaboration. Hence the generic coauthor network of a research specialty can be understood as the overlay of two distinct types of cooperative networks between groups of authors publishing in a research specialty. We show how our analytic approach exposes field specific differences in the social organization of research.Comment: An earlier version of the paper was presented at ISSI 2009, 14-17 July, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Revised version accepted on 2 April 2010 for publication in Scientometrics. Removed part on node-role connectivity profile analysis after finding error in calculation and deciding to postpone analysis

    An inquiry into the return mobility of scientific researchers in Europe

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    [EN] Against the current of scientific researchers moving to universities and research institutes outside their home countries, there is also an observable flow of researchers who relocate back to their home countries following a foreign stay. The aim of this report is to take stock of conceptual and measurement issues related to this phenomenon, referred to as the ¿return mobility¿ of researchers. In the context of European policies striving to promote excellent research while realizing it by efficient spending, there are fears that researcher mobility towards centers of excellence (seen as ¿brain drain¿ in ¿net exporter¿ countries) further widens the gap between regions of Europe. This fear is behind a growing concern for fostering the return mobility of talented researchers to ensure a more equal distribution of research capacity.The authors would like to thank the valuable feedback and suggestion of colleagues from the JRC s unit I1 Modelling, Indicators and Impact Evaluation, especially, to Sara Flisi, well as Richard Deiss and Diana Ognyanova (DG RTD). The preparation of the study benefitted from funding through the INNOVA_Measure 2 (H2020 690804) project.Cañibano, C.; Vértesy, D.; Vezzulli, A. (2017). An inquiry into the return mobility of scientific researchers in Europe. EUR. Scientific and technical research series. 1-66. https://doi.org/10.2760/54633S16

    Tracing scientific influence

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    Scientometrics is the field of quantitative studies of scholarly activity. It has been used for systematic studies of the fundamentals of scholarly practice as well as for evaluation purposes. Although advocated from the very beginning the use of scientometrics as an additional method for science history is still under explored. In this paper we show how a scientometric analysis can be used to shed light on the reception history of certain outstanding scholars. As a case, we look into citation patterns of a specific paper by the American sociologist Robert K. Merton.Comment: 25 pages LaTe

    Publication trends and interdisciplinary collaboration across the archaeological science/humanities-divide: Investigations into the epistemological structure of the archaeological discipline

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    The present master thesis is an article-based dissertation, comprising two individual research papers and an introductory essay. Both papers correspond to a shared set of overarching aims: 1. To investigate the composition and state of archaeological epistemology, focusing on comparability and integration between sub-fields of the archaeological discipline. 2. To better understand the potential impact of the science/humanities-divide upon archaeological practice in publishing and applied epistemology in research strategies. These aims are mostly examined separately in the two papers. When put together, the main ambition is to provide a deeper understanding of the relation between the structure and properties of archaeological epistemology and diverse practice (within archaeology and in interdisciplinary cooperation), as influenced by the science/humanities-divide. "Measuring incommensurability: A bibliometric inquiry into what papers are presented in archaeological journals (2009-13), and the epistemic consequences" This paper presents the results of bibliometric analyzes conducted on a data set consisting of 926 archaeological papers. The data comprises all original research papers published in six top ranking archaeological journals in the period 2009-2013. The included journals are taken to represent different sub-fields in archaeology: Historical, anthropological, social, scientific, environmental and general archaeology. The aim is to map general features of archaeological publishing. Significant differences are identified amongst the journals on an array of parameters, covering journal statistics, citation network, thematic distribution, the application of methods and the direction of relevance to other sub-fields. Furthermore, the paper engages in an extended discussion over the epistemological consequences of the bibliometric results, focusing on disciplinary fragmentation, incommensurability, vagueness and the purported significance of the science/humanities-divide. "Identifying key factors affecting the two cultures -relation of archaeology – Outlining a common epistemological platform for archaeology and archaeometry" In relating to the debate over the nature of archaeology along the science/humanities-spectrum, this paper seeks to understand some epistemological challenges arising from integrating scientific methodologies with archaeology. The main objective is to evaluate what epistemological platform might integrate archaeology and archaeometry in interdisciplinary research projects, and how such a platform might provide productive interdisciplinary research strategies. Four epistemic factors at individual levels are examined, consisting of 1) communication, 2) specialization, 3) explanatory ideals and 4) uncertainty levels and types. A model of interdisciplinary research strategies is put forth in order to cope with these epistemic challenges. The opposing results of stable isotope analysis and faunal remains regarding diet during the Mesolithic/Neolithic-transition are presented as a case study, identifying general epistemological factors affecting the application of scientific methodologies in archaeology

    Study on open science: The general state of the play in Open Science principles and practices at European life sciences institutes

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    Nowadays, open science is a hot topic on all levels and also is one of the priorities of the European Research Area. Components that are commonly associated with open science are open access, open data, open methodology, open source, open peer review, open science policies and citizen science. Open science may a great potential to connect and influence the practices of researchers, funding institutions and the public. In this paper, we evaluate the level of openness based on public surveys at four European life sciences institute

    The effect of academic mobility on research performance: The case of Italy

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    Abstract This work investigates the effects of researchers' mobility on their research performance. The reference context is that of national intrasector mobility, in a country, Italy, characterized by a research system lacking the typical elements of an academic labor market. In particular, the analysis was conducted on 568 academics working at national universities and affected by mobility in the period 2009–2014. The effect of mobility on the variation of performance at the turn of the transfer was analyzed considering the interplay of demographic/sociological characteristics of the researchers, as well as contextual factors related to both the organization of origin and destination. Results show that it is the less productive academics who represent the larger share of those who move, and more than half of the mobile academics worsen their performance after the transfer
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