Abstract
This article discusses the nature and structure of scientific collaboration as well as the association between academic collaboration networks and scientific productivity. Based on empirical data gathered from the CVs of 73 researchers affiliated with an academic research network in Canada, this study used social network analysis (SNA) to examine the association between researchers’ structural position in the network and their scientific performance. With reference to Granovetter’s and Burt’s theories on weak ties and structural holes, we argue it is the bridging position a researcher holds in a scientific network that matters most to improve scientific performance. The results of correlation scores between network centrality and two different indicators of scientific performance indicate there is a robust association between researchers’ structural position in collaboration networks and their scientific performance. We believe this finding, and the method we have developed, could have implications for the way research networks are managed and researchers are supported.
Highlights
The structure, nature and strength of social connections with peers, partners and friends deeply influence numerous aspects of human life
One challenge is that researchers' research networks are highly overlapping structures, making it difficult to assess the impact of any one PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone
Earlier we suggested that it would be theoretically possible to map out the entire ‘scientific community’ of all individuals involved in the human scientific endeavour and all their collaborative ties at one given time
Summary
The structure, nature and strength of social connections with peers, partners and friends deeply influence numerous aspects of human life. From how people get jobs, to market success or organizational conflicts, people’s positions in social networks matter [1,2,3,4,5,6]. In the field of academic research, the creation of research centres or networks stems from the idea that collaboration ties will positively influence researchers’ performance by enabling the exchange of resources, knowledge and experience [7]. Funding agencies and universities are involved in supporting the formation of institutional networks [8]. The question is whether these structures aimed at supporting and strengthening collaborative research improve scientific achievements. One challenge is that researchers' research networks are highly overlapping structures, making it difficult to assess the impact of any one PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0161281. One challenge is that researchers' research networks are highly overlapping structures, making it difficult to assess the impact of any one PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0161281 August 31, 2016
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