Performance Evaluation of the Iranian Researchers, Universities and Research Institutions in the Engineering Education Using Social Network Analysis

This research used a scientometirc approach and social network analysis indices to investigate the co-authorship network between Iranian researchers, universities and research institutions in Iran’s engineering education field. The corpus of the study included 444 articles published in Persian in the Iranian Journal of Engineering Education from1999 to 2014. The network co-authorship matrix was drawn using a Ravar-Matrix; and then two types of social network software, UCINET and VOSviewer, were utilized for data analysis. The productivity index results revealed that the largest number of articles were written by M. Yaghobi (20 articles), J. Hejazi (15 articles), GH. Daneshi (15 articles), H. Memarian (15 articles) and P. Davami (14 articles). Moreover, based on centrality indices of the Iranian Journal of Engineering Education researchers like M. Yaghobi, P. Davami and J. Hejazi were assumed to play leading roles in the co-authorship network. In terms of the scientific productivity index, Sharif University of Technology (65 articles), Shiraz University (58 articles), and University of Tehran (57 articles) achieved the highest ranks.In addition, based on indices of degree centrality, between ness centrality, and closeness centrality, universities like Sharif University of Technology, Shiraz University, University of Tehran, and Islamic Azad University were the most effective universities in terms of scientific productivity in the Iranian Journal of Engineering Education

A scientometrics study on informetrics: one decade quantitative researches in Iran (2002-2012)

Background and aim: Present scientometrics study aimed at investigating the scientific collaboration of Iranian scientometrics researchers during 2002-2012.  Material and methods: Using scientometrics approach, this paper studied co-authorship network of Iranian scientometrics researchers. The population includes 779 articles published both in English and Persian and indexed in 4th edition of scientometrics bibliography (last version till now) during 2002-2012. First, the co-authorship network matrix was drawn by using excel software second, the UCINET software and VOSviewer were used for data analysis.  Findings: The study of co-authorship patterns of Iranian scientometrics researchers indicated that Farideh Osareh (47 articles), Mohammad Hasanzadeh (43 articles), and Albdolrreza NouruziChackoli (36 articles) have the highest rank among scientometrics researchers in scientific productivity. According to central indicator, Farshid Danesh (77), Albdolrreza NouruziChackoli (69), and Mohammad Hasanzadeh (66) had the most number of co-authorship with other researchers.  Conclusion: Although clustering coefficient (= 0.767) showed the relative interest of this network members to work with each other and shaping different clusters, the density coefficient (=0.009) revealed the low consistency of the network

The effect of simultaneous and asynchronous online assessment methods on the teaching-learning process: A case study of Lorestan University

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of simultaneous and asynchronous online assessment methods on the teaching-learning process. The present study was applied in terms of purpose, research method of consecutive exploratory type and survey collection method. The statistical population in the qualitative section included professors of Lorestan University and using targeted sampling, 20 interviews with 20 experts were conducted until information saturation. The statistical population in the quantitative section included students (9304 people) and professors (322 people) of Lorestan University, of which 369 students and 175 professors were selected as a statistical sample. The data collection tool in the present study was a semi-structured interview and a researcher-made questionnaire. Thematic analysis and structural equation modeling were used to analyze the research data. Findings showed that simultaneous and asynchronous online assessment methods have a positive and significant effect on teaching and learning processes of Lorestan University students. However, simultaneous online assessment method has a greater impact on the learning process and asynchronous online assessment method has a greater impact on the teaching process. Due to the positive effect of both evaluation methods on the teaching-learning process, faculty members of Lorestan University can use both methods to evaluate students

Depression: Detecting the historical roots of research on depression prevention with reference publication year spectroscopy

Background: Reference citation analysis and reference publication year can help to demonstrate the historical context of a research field. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the most important historical publications regarding depression prevention. Methods: This was a bibliometric study carried out using reference publication year spectroscopy(RPYS) method. Data gathering was carried out using Thomson Reuters Web of Science in the period of 2007–2016. A total of 17,043 records were retrieved which were uploaded as full record and cited references in plain text format. Then modified data were analyzed using RPYS.exe software. Results: Distribution of cited references in the area of depression prevention based on publication year revealed nine peaks in the twentieth century in years 1921, 1935, 1944, 1977, 1983, 1990, 1994, 1999, and 2000. Moreover, our analysis showed that some peaks occurred in the 21st century in years 2001–2005. Conclusions: Researchers have investigated depression prevention with physiological, epidemiological, biological as well as physical approaches. Furthermore, created criteria for measuring depression in different target societies have played an important and vital role in depression prevention

Doom Scrolling in Health Science

This article introduce a new term in the field of health information and health communication called the "Doom Scrolling" and tries to draw the attention of health professionals to this issue by referring to its effects on the health of the individual and society.People are faced with a wide range of news in their lives, some of which have negative and unpleasant content (1). Usually, people consider searching for information as a way to deal with challenging situations. On the other hand, coping and adapting to unpleasant information can also be a coping behavior; because it warns people about existing dangers and prepares them for similar threats in the future (2). One of the new challenges in the health science is the existence, tendency and desire of some people to "follow unpleasant news" (Doom Scrolling or Doom surfing), which has various reasons and can occur in different health fields. Some of these reasons are: passive use of social media, habitual media use, anxiety, weak self-control and some other personality traits of people. Men, younger adults, and politicians are also more likely to do doom scrolling. In general, it seems that following such news is particularly attractive for some people. (3)

Performance and clique analysis of the Iranian universities and research institutions informetrics: 10 years study

The current research aims to investigate the co-authorship network of Iranian universities and research institutions in informetrics research during 2002-2012 using social network analysis. Using scientometric approach and social network analysis measures, this paper studies co-authorship network of Iranian universities and research institutions in informetrics research. The research population includes 779 articles published in both English and Persian and indexed in 4th edition of scientometrics bibliography during 2002-2012. First, the co-authorship matrix of institutions was drawn by using excel software; second, the UCINET and VOSviewer software were utilized for data analysis. Results revealed that institutions like Tehran University, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tarbiat Modares University, Shahed University, Shahid Chamran University of Ahwaz, Regional Information Center for Science and Technology, and National Research Institute for Science Policy play the most important and central roles in the informetrics collaboration network based on productivity, centrality, and collaboration measures. The highest number of co-authored papers in this network have been written by the following pairs of institutions: "Tarbiat Modares University- Shahed University", "Payame Noor University- Regional Information Center for Science and Technology", and "Shahed University- National Research Institute for Science Policy" respectively. Results of the clique analysis showed that this network is made of 12 cliques with at least 5 institutions. Tehran University and Islamic Azad University were in the highest number of subgroups of the network with 7 cliques

Study of co-authorship network of papers in the Journal of Research in Medical Sciences using social network analysis

Background: Co-authorship is one of the most tangible forms of research collaboration. A co-authorship network is a social network in which the authors through participation in one or more publication through an indirect path have linked to each other. The present research using the social network analysis studied co-authorship network of 681 articles published in Journal of Research in Medical Sciences (JRMS) during 2008-2012. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out with the scientometrics approach and using co-authorship network analysis of authors. The topology of the co-authorship network of 681 published articles in JRMS between 2008 and 2012 was analyzed using macro-level metrics indicators of network analysis such as density, clustering coefficient, components and mean distance. In addition, in order to evaluate the performance of each authors and countries in the network, the micro-level indicators such as degree centrality, closeness centrality and betweenness centrality as well as productivity index were used. The UCINET and NetDraw softwares were used to draw and analyze the co-authorship network of the papers. Results: The assessment of the authors productivity in this journal showed that the first ranks were belonged to only five authors, respectively. Furthermore, analysis of the co-authorship of the authors in the network demonstrated that in the betweenness centrality index, three authors of them had the good position in the network. They can be considered as the network leaders able to control the flow of information in the network compared with the other members based on the shortest paths. On the other hand, the key role of the network according to the productivity and centrality indexes was belonged to Iran, Malaysia and United States of America. Conclusion: Co-authorship network of JRMS has the characteristics of a small world network. In addition, the theory of 6° separation is valid in this network was also true