With whom do researchers collaborate and why?

Hajdeja Iglič,Patrick Doreian,Anuška Ferligoj,Luka Kronegger

doi:10.1007/s11192-017-2386-y

Hajdeja Iglič, Patrick Doreian + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-017-2386-y

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Journal: Scientometrics	Publication Date: Apr 13, 2017
Citations: 66	License type: open-access

Affiliation: University of Ljubljana, University of Pittsburgh

Abstract

Although research collaboration has been studied extensively, we still lack understanding regarding the factors stimulating researchers to collaborate with different kinds of research partners including members of the same research center or group, researchers from the same organization, researchers from other academic and non-academic organizations as well as international partners. Here, we provide an explanation of the emergence of diverse collaborative ties. The theoretical framework used for understanding research collaboration couples scientific and technical human capital embodied in the individual with the social organization and cognitive characteristics of the research field. We analyze survey data collected from Slovenian scientists in four scientific disciplines: mathematics; physics; biotechnology; and sociology. The results show that while individual characteristics and resources are among the strongest predictors of collaboration, very different mechanisms underlie collaboration with different kinds of partners. International collaboration is particularly important for the researchers in small national science systems. Collaboration with colleagues from various domestic organizations presents a vehicle for resource mobilization. Within organizations collaboration reflects the elaborated division of labor in the laboratories and high level of competition between different research groups. These results hold practical implications for policymakers interested in promoting quality research.

Highlights

Knowledge production in the twentieth century was characterized by a steady rise in the scale and importance of scientific collaboration
The theoretical framework used for understanding research collaboration couples scientific and technical human capital embodied in the individual with the social organization and cognitive characteristics of the research field
We analyze survey data collected from Slovenian scientists in four scientific disciplines: mathematics; physics; biotechnology; and sociology

Summary

Introduction

Knowledge production in the twentieth century was characterized by a steady rise in the scale and importance of scientific collaboration. Recent explanations of the ever-increasing research collaboration suggest it is driven by the growing number of scientists applying for research funds (O’Brien 2012) This contributed to greater competitiveness and specialization at the individual level (Wenger 1998; Blau 1994). When looking for partners, they often consider those having high prominence and greater scientific productivity (Crane 1972; Beaver and Rosen 1978, 1979a, b) who can help them gain access to scarce resources This era has been characterized by Big Science in which the scale and comprehensiveness of research projects have increased (Price 1963; Galison and Hevly 1992) increasing the resource dependencies between scientists. The recent shift from an Industrial to a Knowledge Society implies increased triadic cooperative relationships involving academia, industry, and government, known as the Triple Helix thesis (Etzkowitz and Leydesdorff 1995, 2000)

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