The Scientometric Measurement of Interdisciplinarity and Diversity in the Research Portfolios of Chinese Universities

Purpose:Interdisciplinarity is a hot topic in science and technology policy.However,the concept of interdisciplinarity is both abstract and complex,and therefore difficult to measure using a single indicator.A variety of metrics for measuring the diversity and interdisciplinarity of articles,journals,and fields have been proposed in the literature.In this article,we ask whether institutions can be ranked in terms of their(inter-)disciplinary diversity.Design/methodology/approach:We developed a software application(interd_vb.exe)that outputs the values of relevant diversity indicators for any document set or network structure.The software is made available,free to the public,online.The indicators it considers include the advanced diversity indicators Rao-Stirling(RS)diversity and DIV*,as well as standard measures of diversity,such as the Gini coefficient,Shannon entropy,and the Simpson Index.As an empirical demonstration of how the application works,we compared the research portfolios of 42“Double First-Class”Chinese universities across Web of Science Subject Categories(WCs).Findings:The empirical results suggest that DIV*provides results that are more in line with one’s intuitive impressions than RS,particularly when the results are based on sampledependent disparity measures.Furthermore,the scores for diversity are more consistent when based on a global disparity matrix than on a local map.Research limitations:“Interdisciplinarity”can be operationalized as bibliographic coupling among(sets of)documents with references to disciplines.At the institutional level,however,diversity may also indicate comprehensiveness.Unlike impact(e.g.citation),diversity and interdisciplinarity are context-specific and therefore provide a second dimension to the evaluation.Policy or practical implications:Operationalization and quantification make it necessary for analysts to make their choices and options clear.Although the equations used to calculate diversity are often mathematically transparent,the specification in terms of computer code helps the analyst to further precision in decisions.Although diversity is not necessarily a goal of universities,a high diversity score may inform potential policies concerning interdisciplinarity at the university level.Originality/value:This article introduces a non-commercial online application to the public domain that allows researchers and policy analysts to measure“diversity”and“interdisciplinarity”using the various indicators as encompassing as possible for any document set or network structure(e.g.a network of co-authors).Insofar as we know,such a professional computing tool for evaluating data sets using diversity indicators has not yet been made available online.

Cultural Heritage and Flood Need of Interdisciplinarity

This contribution discusses some results of the ongoing research focused on the protection of cultural heritage from flood danger. The research project Methodology of Protection and Rescue of Cultural Heritage against Flood takes place in the Czech Republic and is focused on specific regional problems that have been experienced during and after disastrous floods in past 15 years. However, the lessons learned have wider applicability to the issue of flood protection of cultural heritage. Here, we describe two case studies that represent important issues requiring a solution;addressing these issues was the main motivation for the whole project.

The discovery of cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries from the view of interdisciplinarity

In honor of Professor John B.Goodenough for his 100th birthday,this article tries to find the relationship between the discovery of cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries and the interdisciplinary research in his career.The original ideas of lithium cobalt oxide,lithium manganese oxide,and LiFePO4 came from his early research in solid state physics and from his strong knowledge of chemical structure and bonding.Some examples are given to demonstrate the importance of interdisciplinary interactions among materials,chemistry,and physics.With the rapid development of rechargeable batteries,such interdisciplinarity is further extended to engineering,information,and even artificial intelligence.Although there are still many challenges like energy density and safety in the batteries,we are confident that a better solution will be soon found.

The need for disciplinarity,interdisciplinarity and scientific societies-the cartographic perspective

Do we still need Cartography?Do we still need a cartographic society?These questions,which can also be transferred to other disciplines,are answered from disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives-which creates an ideal connection to the networked and interdisciplinary thinking of Gottfried Konecny.The need for Cartography as a discipline is discussed based on a view on historic,current and future functions of maps and changing research and development requirements.With respect to interdisciplinarity,Cartography shows connections to various domains while more and more relationships with young areas from the field of Computer Science are developing.With regard to cartographic societies,their central role and importance as networking platforms are emphasized.Nevertheless,geographical and thematic granularities of societies as well as networking formats(including online versions)need to be evaluated and further developed on a constant basis.

Analyzing the interdisciplinarity of Big Data research

Big Data is a hot topic at present,and many disciplines are engaged in it.However,the relationship and status of these disciplines in Big Data research are still not well understood.Based on bibliometric data from the Web of Science,this study analyzes the interdisciplinarity of Big Data research.It focuses on its spatial and temporal distribution characteristics by combining traditional bibliometrics,interdisciplinarity indicators,and so cial network analysis.We found that:1)In recent years,the research topics of Big Data include the Internet of Things,Syndromic Surveillance,Knowledge M anagement,Industry 4.0,etc.M ost Big Data research comes from China,the United States,and India.2)Big Data research involved 141 disciplines,but the disciplinary distribution is unbalanced,among which the diversity of disciplines is constantly improving;The balance of disciplines is on the rise,and the situation that is dominated by a few disciplines has been improved;The disparity of disciplines increases and researchers tend to cite the disciplines that are quite different from their own disciplines.3)Computer Science and Engineering are the two most important disciplines in the Big Data field.According to the collaboration degree,the interdisciplinary collaboration network can be divided into five communities:Community 1,represented by Computer Science and Engineering;Community 2,represented by Business&Economics;Community 3,represented by Science&Technology;Community 4,represented by M aterials Science;Community 5,represented by Health Care Sciences&Services.The collaboration between a few key disciplines has changed,and the whole network is still expanding in Big Data research.

Measuring and Visualizing Research Collaboration and Productivity

Purpose： This paper presents findings of a quasi-experimental assessment to gauge the research productivity and degree of interdisciplinarity of research center outputs. Of special interest, we share an enriched visualization of research co-authoring patterns. Design/methodology/approach： We compile publications by 45 researchers in each of 1） the iUTAH project, which we consider here to be analogous to a ＂research center,＂ 2） CG1-a comparison group of participants in two other Utah environmental research centers, and 3） CG2--a comparison group of Utah university environmental researchers not associated with a research center. We draw bibliometric data from Web of Science and from Google Scholar. We gather publications for a period before iUTAH had been established （2010-2012） and a period after （2014-2016）. We compare these research outputs in terms of publications and citations thereto. We also measure interdisciplinarity using Integration scoring and generate science overlay maps to locate the research publications across disciplines. Findings： We find that participation in the iUTAH project appears to increase research outputs （publications in the After period） and increase research citation rates relative to the comparison group researchers （although CG 1 research remains most cited, as it was in the Before period）. Most notably, participation in iUTAH markedly increases co-authoring among researchers--in general; and for junior, as well as senior, faculty; for men and women： across organizations; and across disciplines. Research limitations： The quasi-experimental design necessarily generates suggestive, not definitively causal, findings because of the imperfect controls. Practical implications： This study demonstrates a viable approach for research assessment of a center or program for which random assignment of control groups is not possible. It illustrates use of bibliometric indicators to inform R＆D program management. Originality/value： New visualizations of researcher collaboration provide compelling comparisons of the extent and nature of social networking among target cohorts.

Detection of early-stage research fronts——An example of complex networks research

Purpose:This study aims to detect research fronts of a scientific field in its early development stage using bibliometric indicators developed based on the features of research fronts.Design/methodology/approach:We first focused on conceptualization of'research fronts'and outlined 4 indicators to measure different aspects of the concept:Innovation,timeliness,stability and interdisciplinarity.Then research specialties obtained based on direct citation networks were evaluated with the 4 indicators and research fronts were identified.Finally,methodology was illustrated and verified in the research domain of complex networks.Findings:The results indicate that the proposed method is useful in detecting research fronts in a specific field which is at an early development stage.Research limitations:The quality of clustering results was not assessed.It needs to be further studied whether the method can be applicable to the fields that evolve slowly such as mathematics or are highly specialized like entomology and zoology.Practical implications:This study helps researchers keep abreast of emerging trends and policy-makers formulate science and technology policies and strategic plans.Originality/value:This research provides insights into a quantitative assessment method to detect research fronts of a scientific field in its early development stage.

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill as a Case Study for Interdisciplinary Cooperation within Developmental Biology, Environmental Sciences and Physiology

The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the USA’s Gulf of Mexico created a high degree of exposure of marine organisms to toxic polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) present in crude oil. To determine the ecological and physiological effects of crude oil on the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem, the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative created several research consortia to address overreaching questions concerning the biological impacts of the ecology of the Gulf of Mexico that would otherwise be beyond the capabilities of an individual investigator or a small group. One of these consortia, highlighted in this article, is the RECOVER Consortium, which brings together physiologists, developmental biologists, toxicologists and other life scientists to focus on the multifaceted physiological effects of PAHs, especially as they pertain to cardiovascular and metabolic physiology of economically important fish species. Using the Recover Consortium’s interdisciplinary approach to revealing the biological impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill as a case study, we make the argument for interdisciplinary teams that bring together scientists with different specialties as an efficient way—and perhaps the only way—to unravel highly complex biological effects of marine oil spills.

From the Perspective of Musicians in Goa： How Has Tourism Changed Music Culture？

The objective of this paper is to assess the impact of tourism on the local music culture in Goa from the perspective of musicians. We consider musicians to be one of the principal, yet often understated agents of cultural change. Musicians are both economic and cultural actors. In the economic space, they participate in the labor market of the tourism industry by performing at local restaurants, hotels, cruises, and other tourist venues, and they make changes to their music in the cultural space by responding to tastes and preferences of tourists. This research is an interdisciplinary study of the nexus point among these overlapping spaces in order to understand how musicians have been affected by and have responded to tourism, which may in turn change the collective identity of the community. It is an exploration of relationships among cultural change, power, and identity. Our findings suggest that tourism in Goa has undoubtedly raised incomes of musicians but not necessarily their well-being. Tourism has also significantly changed music culture in Goa.

Beyond the Concepts of the Secular and the Religious

The U.S. Supreme Court gave the privately owned company Hobby Lobby the authority to deny healthcare coverage to its employees, a decision by a secular authority involving the owner＇s religious beliefs. In France, the first issue released by the secular magazine Charlie Hebdo after the terrorist attack depicted a religious figure declaring, ＂All is forgiven.＂ In each instance the boundaries between the ＂secular＂ and ＂religious＂ were transgressed. In the academic study of religion, an additional direction methodology needs to take involves the lens formed by academic concepts and categories as shaped by the historical development of the university＇s discourses and lines of inquiry. The university is an epistemological project and we look ＂out there＂ through concepts and categories formed ＂in here＂, inside of the history of ＂the university＂. It is another dimension to the problem of the insider/outsider. This paper will use the characteristics of interdisciplinarity to historicize how the university as an epistemological project has developed the concepts of ＂religion＂, the ＂secular＂, and the binary they form, in order to suggest directions for their use to interpret events in the 21 st century through the academic study of religion.

A Pilot Study on Health Care Utilization: Outpatient Aftercare for Geriatric Patients and Their Relatives

Increasing life expectancy correlating highly with polymorbidity, frequently causes recurring inpatient stays at Geriatric hospital wards. After discharge from hospital, an offer for physical and psychological after-care seems necessary for most patients. Purpose of this project was the development, implementation and primary assessment of an out-patient after-care intervention program for elderly, multimorbid patients and their relatives. During a period of eight months an interdisciplinary team offered psychological interventions as well as medical advice, nursing care and social casework. Primary goal was the investigation of health care utilization conduct and effectiveness of this after-care service in regard to sustainable stabilization of former inpatients. Preliminary results show higher demand of psychological and psychotherapeutic groups, whereas medical questions and nursing care problems were of minor concern to the patients. Contrary to our presumptions, even geriatric patients with a diagnosis of depression or anxiety disorder, showed to be reliable and constructive participants in psychological group settings. Situation and problems of (nursing) relatives could be identified accurately, although they represented an independent target group, possibly in need of more specific interventions.

＂Greasing the Skids＂： Interdisciplinary Rhetoric and Mindblindness

The idea of mindblindness reaching outside of neuroscience is an important one. It is significant because there is concern in all quarters about the prevalence and meaning of autism diagnoses. Secondly, mindblindness rhetoric reflects the kinds of rhetorical devices scholars use to analyze this theory. Finally, mindblindness is a fertile ground for research collaboration between neuroscientists, social scientists and humanities scholars as it skirts the boundaries of disciplinarity. What about mindblindness theory makes it an interdisciplinary phenomenon, complete with interdisciplinary collaborations and mutual knowledge-seeking？ I argue in this paper that specific forms of rhetoric ＂grease the skids,＂ meaning that they can be construed flexibly in both the neuroscientific language and the ＂other-discipline＂ language. Because of the flexibility of these rhetorical conveyances, interdisciplinary collaboration has exploded around mindblindness dialogue, despite the traditional differences in disciplinary methodology.

Charles Sheeler＇s Paragone： Literary Influence and the Shaping of a Hierarchy

This study is concerned with the literary and aesthetic influences that led to Charles Sheeler＇s formation of a paragone in his early 20th century work. This painter, photographer, printmaker, and experimental filmmaker had very specific ideas concerning the hierarchy of the visual arts. While he is known for embracing a wide range of media and materials, by 1919 his aesthetic thought reveals a desire to elevate the painting over all other media. This formation of a visual paragone was initially influenced by his involvement in the interdisciplinary circles which surrounded both Alfred Stieglitz and Walter and Louise Arensberg in New York City. In particular, his lifelong friendship with the poet and writer William Carlos Williams would shape his aesthetic thought leading to his elevation of painting over all other media. Sheeler＇s paragone would begin to form during his stays at the rural Doylestown House in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. This rural home, which he first rented with fellow painter Morton Schamberg in 1916, would become an artistic refuge for both artists. While commercial photography was beginning to take up more if his time in Philadelphia, it was the retreats to the Doylestown house that enabled Sheeler to continue experiments in painting and begin to think of the photograph as something other than a document of architectural work. At this early stage in his artistic career, Sheeler was beginning to form his own hierarchy and contribute to the continuing argument of painting versus photography.

Interdisciplinary Proportions in the Study of Economics

The interdisciplinary approach is both the cause and the result of the synergy that develops between the various branches of Science.Economics lends and borrows tools and methods of analytical approach from other sciences in order to complete its contribution to knowledge.Thus the main economic problem related to the unlimited needs of the people and the limited means that exist to meet these needs begins with the theological teaching of the Old Testament and the expulsion of the protoplasts from the Garden of Eden.Adam Smith’s“Invisible Hand”leading the economy to the optimum level of prosperity is another presentation of the“Invisible Hand”of Divine Providence,as it appears in the works of Thomas Aquinas.In this and in other cases the finding of interdisciplinary analogies leads the researcher to the holistic approach of the knowledge and science of Economics but also of the operation of the society.

Digital Economy: A Vision From The Future

The article shows that the foundation of the digital economy can be a new paradigm for predicting the future from the future,i.e.from the future in which the development goal has already been achieved.This allows to minimize all costs and completely avoid incorrect system solutions of the existing trial-and-error approach.Using the achievements of the technological revolution of Industry 4.0,an effective digital economy can be formed only when it is seen as an economy of coordinated interests between the state,business,society and the interests of each individual in real time at every local level.This will make it possible to solve the problem of ensuring the high quality of life not of citizens in general,but of each individual.

On Constructing an Experimental Teaching System for Digital Jurisprudence Courses

Developing digital jurisprudence, strengthening the practical teaching of law, and developing a practical teaching system of digital jurisprudence in colleges and universities based on the new era and in line with the law of scientific development are major issues of reforming and developing higher legal education in contemporary China. Taking XI Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law as the fundamental guide, focusing on the global cutting-edge topic of comprehensive and profound cross-integration of digital technology and legal education, and proceeding in line with the general law of law experimental courses in colleges and universities, we discuss how to construct the experimental teaching system for digital jurisprudence courses, and put forward a set of new ideas. An experimental teaching system for digital jurisprudence courses replenishes and improves the traditional law teaching mode, and innovates the mode of law talent cultivation under the new social form and new educational environment.

Se situer dans la continuitéd’un dialogue interdisciplinaire de recherche:entre transmission et renégociation du《commun》 Aligning in the Continuity of an Interdisciplinary Research Dialogue: Between Transmission and Renegotiation of the ‘Common’

This paper aims to highlight the challenges of continuing and resuming interdisciplinary dialogue between physicians and psychologists in thefield of research,after the institutionalization and establishment of this collaboration at the institutional level.By comparing two research frameworks that follow each other in the same researchfield,we will examine the negotiation process of interdisciplinary dialogue and the ways in which it manifests in the researchfield,mediated by the interaction between healthcare professionals and researchers.

Mener des recherches pluridisciplinaires en SHS dans le domaine du cancer:quels leviers,quels freins?Conducting Multidisciplinary SHS Research in the Field of Cancer:Strengths and Barriers?

This paper summarizes the work held at the Cancéropôle Ile-de-France's annual SHS research seminar on the theme:Pluridisciplinarity and methods for SHS research in thefield of cancer.After clarifying the concepts of pluri-,inter-,and transdisciplinarité,it aimed to describe how this type of research is carried out in practice,addressing successively:the role of stakeholders and their respective positions,the need for a shared language,the various temporalities involved and task sharing,the interview and analysis methods as well as the implication of patient-researchers.It highlighted the personal qualities required to practice this type of research,such as psychologicalflexibility and adaptability,a strong desire for collaborative work,acceptance of risk,and a humble stance.

Mettre en dialogue disciplines et personnes concernées par le cancer pour améliorer le parcours des soins en oncologie Dialogue between Disciplines and People Affected by Cancer to Improve the Path of Care in Oncology

Interdisciplinarity and participatory research have become the guiding principles of cancer research.But what are the practical forms and methods?Based on the experience of 3 successive research projects aimed at improving cancer care pathways-PARCA1,PARCA2 and 4P-we present the encounters between researchers on the one hand,and between these same researchers and patients and health professionals on the other.Gradually,these meetings have led to the co-construction of projects and the shared conduct of research.The motivations behind the participatory approach are highlighted,as well as the‘step-by-step’approach needed to familiarize the people involved with the research process,and the limits of the approach:while everyone’s position tends to be adjusted as the projects progress,there is still an imbalance between the researchers and the people involved.

The IMPAQT Project:Reflections on a Participatory Research Mechanism

Over the last forty years,many methodologies have been initiated within the framework of the participatory approach,the objective of which is to encourage the involvement of citizens in the definition and implementation of projects and policies concerning them.The implementation of these participatory approaches in the field of interventional research in population health reveals several scientific,organizational,inter-individual,and ethical issues that must be discussed.Thus,we propose to present here the fruit of a collective reflection of the members of a research group,composed of patient-researchers and researchers in social psychology,on the implementation of the IMPAQT research project,which aimed to promote a community-based research approach in oncology.The discussion will be structured around three topics:the implementation of the participatory research mechanism,the sustainability of the commitment involved in participating in research,and the valorization of the participation of the patient-researchers.These issues are particularly important to consider in guiding the implementation of a solid and balanced partnership with those concerned in the co-construction of interventional research devices in cancerology.