Leydesdorff, Loet and Wagner, Caroline S (2005) Network structure, self-organization and the growth of international collaboration in science. Research Policy, 34 (10). pp. 1608-1618. ISSN 0048-7333

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Abstract

Different 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.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	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.
Schools and Departments:	University of Sussex Business School > SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit
Depositing User:	EPrints Services
Date Deposited:	20 Feb 2012 16:54
Last Modified:	11 Apr 2012 09:58
URI:	http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/37019

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