Worldwide Topology of the Scientific Subject Profile: A Macro Approach in the Country Level

Félix Moya-Anegón,Víctor Herrero-Solana,Gemma Elizabeth Derrick

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0083222

Félix Moya-Anegón, Víctor Herrero-Solana + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0083222

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Journal: PloS one	Publication Date: Dec 9, 2013
Citations: 37	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Granada

Abstract

BackgroundModels for the production of knowledge and systems of innovation and science are key elements for characterizing a country in view of its scientific thematic profile. With regard to scientific output and publication in journals of international visibility, the countries of the world may be classified into three main groups according to their thematic bias. Methodology/Principal FindingsThis paper aims to classify the countries of the world in several broad groups, described in terms of behavioural models that attempt to sum up the characteristics of their systems of knowledge and innovation. We perceive three clusters in our analysis: 1) the biomedical cluster, 2) the basic science & engineering cluster, and 3) the agricultural cluster. The countries are conceptually associated with the clusters via Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and a Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) map with all the countries is presented.Conclusions/SignificanceAs we have seen, insofar as scientific output and publication in journals of international visibility is concerned, the countries of the world may be classified into three main groups according to their thematic profile. These groups can be described in terms of behavioral models that attempt to sum up the characteristics of their systems of knowledge and innovation.

Highlights

The thematic composition of the scientific output of a country is usually conditioned by factors that lie beyond the scientific system strictly speaking
In order to corroborate whether the data present some type of bias unique to this data set, we used the information from the Essential Science Indicators (ESI) as a control set
In terms of scientific output and publication in journals of international visibility, the countries of the world may be classified into three main groups according to their thematic profile

Summary

Introduction

The thematic composition of the scientific output of a country is usually conditioned by factors that lie beyond the scientific system strictly speaking. With regard to scientific output and publication in journals of international visibility, the countries of the world may be classified into three main groups according to their thematic bias. Conclusions/Significance: As we have seen, insofar as scientific output and publication in journals of international visibility is concerned, the countries of the world may be classified into three main groups according to their thematic profile. These groups can be described in terms of behavioral models that attempt to sum up the characteristics of their systems of knowledge and innovation

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Conclusion