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 visu...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.展开更多
Purpose:This review demonstrates how to position Social Sciences Citation Index(SSCI)papers reasonably in order to promote the reform and development of the system for evaluating social sciences research(E-SSR)in Chin...Purpose:This review demonstrates how to position Social Sciences Citation Index(SSCI)papers reasonably in order to promote the reform and development of the system for evaluating social sciences research(E-SSR)in China.Design/Approach/Methods:This review examines the contributions made by SSCI papers after such papers became a tool in the E-SSR system in Chinese universities,and the resultant issues.This review analyzes documents pertaining to the E-SSR systems of more than 50 world-class universities with consideration to the inherent characteristics and historical mission of social sciences research in China.The findings serve as the basis from which to examine the future trends in the reform of the E-SSR system in Chinese universities.Findings:The application of SSCI papers as an E-SSR tool is not common in world-class universities.To date,the reform of the E-SSR system in Chinese universities has involved:(i)establishing a pluralistic evaluation mechanism,with equal importance placed on SSCI papers and other research achievements;(ii)emphasizing the need for caution in using SSCI papers as an E-SSR tool and instituting distinct treatments for various disciplines;(iii)reducing the importance attached to journal language and ranking,while emphasizing innovation quality and practical contributions;and(iv)establishing China’s E-SSR standards in order to achieve an equilibrium between internationalization and localization.Originality/Value:This review argues that although SSCI papers constitute an indicator of E-SSR system,their importance must not be overstated.The main purpose of the E-SSR system is to facilitate the development of social sciences with a style and characteristics unique to China.展开更多
基金The five-year "innovative Urban Transitions and Aridregion Hydro-sustainability" (iUTAH) project was initiated in 2012 with support from the US National Science Foundation’s (NSF) "Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research" (EPSCo R, award # OIA-1208732)
文摘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.
基金supported by the National Social Science Foundation of China:General Program(BIA170162).
文摘Purpose:This review demonstrates how to position Social Sciences Citation Index(SSCI)papers reasonably in order to promote the reform and development of the system for evaluating social sciences research(E-SSR)in China.Design/Approach/Methods:This review examines the contributions made by SSCI papers after such papers became a tool in the E-SSR system in Chinese universities,and the resultant issues.This review analyzes documents pertaining to the E-SSR systems of more than 50 world-class universities with consideration to the inherent characteristics and historical mission of social sciences research in China.The findings serve as the basis from which to examine the future trends in the reform of the E-SSR system in Chinese universities.Findings:The application of SSCI papers as an E-SSR tool is not common in world-class universities.To date,the reform of the E-SSR system in Chinese universities has involved:(i)establishing a pluralistic evaluation mechanism,with equal importance placed on SSCI papers and other research achievements;(ii)emphasizing the need for caution in using SSCI papers as an E-SSR tool and instituting distinct treatments for various disciplines;(iii)reducing the importance attached to journal language and ranking,while emphasizing innovation quality and practical contributions;and(iv)establishing China’s E-SSR standards in order to achieve an equilibrium between internationalization and localization.Originality/Value:This review argues that although SSCI papers constitute an indicator of E-SSR system,their importance must not be overstated.The main purpose of the E-SSR system is to facilitate the development of social sciences with a style and characteristics unique to China.