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Network structure, self-organization and the growth of international collaboration in science
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 10:17 authored by Loet Leydesdorff, Caroline S WagnerDifferent approaches have been used to analyse international collaboration in science but none can fully explain its rapid growth. Using international co-authorships, we test the hypothesis that international collaboration is a self-organising network. Applying tools from network analysis, the paper shows that the growth of international co-authorships can be explained based on the organising principle of preferential attachment, although the attachment mechanism deviates from an ideal power-law. Several explanations for the deviation are explored, including that of the influence of institutional constraints on the mechanism of self-organisation.
History
Publication status
- Published
Journal
Research PolicyISSN
0048-7333Publisher
ElsevierExternal DOI
Issue
10Volume
34Page range
1608-1618Pages
11.0Department affiliated with
- SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit Publications
Notes
The growth of international collaboration in science is well attested empirically, but few of the extant theoretical explanations can be accepted on the basis of the evidence to hand. This paper conceives of such international collaboration as a `self-organising system¿, and applies network theory ¿ specifically the concept of `preferential attachment¿ ¿ to account for the phenomenon. Testing the theory involved innovative bibliometric work. Responsibility for the paper was shared 50/50, with Prof Leydesdorff supplying the main motivation.Full text available
- No
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2012-02-20Usage metrics
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