Analysis Of Collaboration Networks Research Articles

Analysis of high structural class coupling in object-oriented software systems

Understanding coupling between classes in object-oriented (OO) software systems is useful for a variety of software development and maintenance activities. In this paper we propose a novel, network-based methodology to analyze high structural class coupling in OO software systems. The proposed methodology is based on statistically robust structural analysis of class collaboration networks whose nodes are enriched with both software metrics and domain-independent metrics used in analysis of complex networks. To demonstrate the usefulness of the methodology we analyze five open-source, large-scale software systems written in Java. Contrary to frequently reported findings, the obtained results indicate that high structural class coupling in real software systems cannot be accurately modeled by power-law distributions. Our analysis also shows that highly-coupled classes tend to be significantly more voluminous and functionally important compared to loosely coupled classes, and do not tend to be localized in class inheritance hierarchies. Finally, in four out of five analyzed systems highly coupled classes tend to have drastically higher afferent than efferent coupling. This implies that the existence of high class coupling in an OO software system would rather indicate negative aspects of extensive internal class reuse than negative aspects of extensive internal class aggregation.

The specific shapes of gender imbalance in scientific authorships: A network approach

Gender differences in collaborative research have received little attention when compared with the growing importance that women hold in academia and research. Unsurprisingly, most of bibliometric databases have a strong lack of directly available information by gender. Although empirical-based network approaches are often used in the study of research collaboration, the studies about the influence of gender dissimilarities on the resulting topological outcomes are still scarce. Here, networks of scientific subjects are used to characterize patterns that might be associated to five categories of authorships which were built based on gender. We find enough evidence that gender imbalance in scientific authorships brings a peculiar trait to the networks induced from papers published in Web of Science (WoS) indexed journals of Economics over the period 2010–2015 and having at least one author affiliated to a Portuguese institution. Our results show the emergence of a specific pattern when the network of co-occurring subjects is induced from a set of papers exclusively authored by men. Such a male-exclusive authorship condition is found to be the solely responsible for the emergence of that particular shape in the network structure. This peculiar trait might facilitate future network analysis of research collaboration and interdisciplinarity.

The Role of Gender in Chagas Disease Prevention and Control in Honduras: An Analysis of Communication and Collaboration Networks

In Honduras, where Chagas disease is a serious health and environmental concern, prevention measures face the challenge of achieving widespread and long-term sustainable adoption by communities. The article integrates social network analysis and a gender-sensitive approach to understand the role of men and women in the implementation of a community-level intervention, based on the adoption of housing improvements to reduce the presence of the insect vector. A total of 108 people in the community of El Salitre were interviewed. Data were collected on socio-demographic characteristics, participation in project activities, communication and collaboration networks related to Chagas disease prevention, knowledge of Chagas disease, and adoption of housing improvements techniques. Communication mostly occurred between the same gender individuals and was associated with knowledge of Chagas disease. Socioeconomic status, Chagas disease knowledge, and collaboration with men were associated with women adopting housing improvements. For men, however, participation in project activities, formal education, and collaboration with women were associated with adoption. These findings suggest that men and women were driven by distinct concerns, interests, and motivations when adopting new Chagas disease prevention strategies. Participatory community interventions that seek to generate health knowledge and foster collaborations to reduce health risk should address gender differences.

Triple helix dynamics of South Korea’s innovation system: a network analysis of inter-regional technological collaborations

This study intends to unveil the current innovation landscape of South Korea in an attempt to examine the underlying patterns of inter-regional technology collaboration occurring at the triple helix level. Social network analysis techniques are used to quantify the structure of the four types of inter-provincial co-inventorship network between university, industry, and government (UIG). The findings confirm the declining centrality of Seoul as the primary research center with the emergence of new regional players such as Gyeonggi and Daejeon. However, they also reveal that these three main innovative regions have become strongly linked in recent years and constitute the core of the inter-regional collaboration networks. The poor linkage between the research core and the periphery, in turn, raises some concerns regarding the unfair geographical concentration of innovation resources and technology activities, hindering the synergy in the national and regional innovation systems. To create a dynamic innovative milieu for bolstering Korea’s national innovation system, therefore, interactive learning between the core and the periphery, as well as between the various UIG actors, must be further facilitated.

Collaborative networks and tourism management of Peri-Urban forests

El Chico National Park (ECNP) is one of the most important peri-urban forests in the state of Hidalgo. Tourism management of this park involves numerous stakeholders with different needs, resources and perceptions of nature. There are four forest communities that are involved in the use of this park for tourism activities, but there are other stakeholders: federal government agencies, state government agencies, municipalities, unorganized smallholder entrepreneurs. Tourism management of this peri-urban forest is a complex issue, particularly, when decision-making processes are centralised by government bodies. This study explores the relationships’ structure among government agencies and Community Tourism Associations (CTAs) based on the tourism management of ECNP. This study presents a descriptive analysis of collaborative networks among the park’s stakeholders, using a qualitative research approach.

Analysis of Collaboration Networks in Business Disciplines

ABSTRACTUsing the articles published in 24 periodicals included in the branch of business fields of the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) journal list (2000–2012) as the data source, this article establishes the collaboration network of scholars of six different disciplines (i.e., business administration, management science, marketing, accounting, finance, and information science), analyzes the features of the network by utilizing the social network analysis approach, and studies the mode of interdisciplinary collaboration among scholars. The network feature analysis reveals that the collaboration networks of the six disciplines are all sparse, and collaboration is established more in the subgroup. The disciplines of business administration, accounting, and finance have the poorest collaboration network connectivity. The collaboration networks of the six disciplines in business fields all have obvious core-periphery structure; the small-world phenomenon exists in the collaboration networks of business administration and information science. The interdisciplinary research on the scholars of business fields indicates that the interdisciplinary collaboration among information science scholars takes up the maximum proportion and is carried out principally in collaboration of the two disciplines. The collaboration between scholars in management science and information science accounts for the highest proportion.

Bibliometric Analysis of Collaboration Network and the Role of Research Station in Antarctic Science

Due to the large scale of Antarctic science, scientific collaboration is required for conducting scientific research. In this study, we attempted to investigate collaboration network and the role of research station in Antarctic science based on bibliometric data from 1995 to 2014. We confirmed that geographical proximity tends to be important for scientific collaboration by employing community detection in the network. This result raises the question about what the role of research station in Antarctica is. We tried to reveal its role by focusing on five countries, Belgium, China, Czech Republic, India, and Korea that constructed new research stations during the last decade. Relative growth rate, a value to measure the growth of publications, didn't differ much around the construction period compared to those in other periods for these countries except Belgium. However, we found geographical keywords emerged around the construction for all five countries. These keywords were utilized to observe national research activities in Antarctica. They show where countries started to be concerned about after the construction.

Organizational sustainability in transportation planning: Evaluation of multi-jurisdictional agency collaboration

Although significant effort is being made in addressing infrastructure design, construction, operations, and maintenance, there is the need for assessing organizational sustainability within transportation planning. Transportation planners have identified coordination and collaboration as fundamental steps in addressing issues related to transportation network planning and sustainability initiatives. This research explores multi-jurisdictional collaboration between agencies using a case study on Pennsylvania Metropolitan/Rural Planning Organizations (MPOs/RPOs) and non-designated areas. The agencies are surveyed and the results are analyzed using a network analysis software, Gephi. In order to compare the collaboration network analysis (survey results) to influential factors, such as geographic adjacency and geographic proximity (reflective of transportation networks), GIS is used in combination with Gephi to complete geographical network analyses. The three analyses are compared using average degree, density, and average path length. The results indicate that the MPOs, RPOs, and non-designated areas within the state of Pennsylvania are collaborating, on average, beyond the geographical adjacency but below the level of geographical proximity network. In addition, email and phone communication forms are the most widely used for high frequency connection while face-to-face meetings are more likely for biannual and annual collaboration. The results of this study serve as a foundation for measuring and monitoring multi-jurisdictional collaboration to promote sustainable organizational planning in transportation.

Viticulture and oenology scientific research: The Old World versus the New World wine-producing countries

The main aim of this study was to analyze the scientific productivity and collaboration between Old World wine-producing countries (Austria, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Switzerland) and New World wine-producing countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, South Africa, United Sates, Uruguay) in viticulture and oenology through bibliometric analyses of articles included in the Science Citation Index Expanded database for the period 1994–2013. A number of 1527 research articles were published in 563 journals. The results highlight an important growth in the collaboration between countries during the second decade (2004–2013). Papers have been published in numerous journals belonging to several subject areas. Food Science and Technology, Horticulture and Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology appeared as the most productive research areas. A social network analysis of collaboration between these countries was also performed in order to analyze the most powerful scientific cooperation.

An evolutionary analysis of collaboration networks in scientometrics

The research area of scientometrics began during the second half of the nineteenth century. After decades of growth, the international field of scientometrics has become increasingly mature. This study intends to understand the evolution of the collaboration network in the field of scientometrics. The growth of the discipline is divided into three stages: the first period (1987---1996), the second period (1997---2006), and the third period (2007---2015). Macro-level, meso-level, and micro-level network measures across the time periods are compared. Macro-level analyses show that the degree distribution of the collaboration in each time span are consistent with power-law, and that both the average degree and average distance steadily increase with time. From the meso-level perspective, the increase of the number of clusters in the collaboration networks suggests the emergence of more collaborative fields in scientometrics. Moreover, the growth of the size of primary clusters demonstrates the expansion of the research fields and the collaboration range. Micro-level structure analyses identify the authors/researchers with high performance in raw degree measure, degree centrality measure, and betweenness measure, all of which are dynamic across different time spans. From three dimensions (raw degree, degree centrality, and betweenness centrality), the collaboration dominators are identified for each time span.

Topological analysis and visualization of interfirm collaboration networks in the electronics industry

This study examines the topological characteristics of interfirm collaboration networks (CNs) in the global electronics industry. Our results show that high-performing firms exhibit significant relational CN power, manage CNs that follow a power-law shape degree distribution, are predominantly horizontally integrated with low geographic complexity, and maintain a balanced exploration-exploitation collaboration relationship portfolio. We complement our topological analysis with graphical visualizations of each of these CNs over three timeframes (2004-06; 2007-09; 2010-12). Theoretically, we demonstrate the association of topological CN characteristics with high-performance of firms. Methodologically, our study defines and implements a data-driven analyses and visualization of CNs in high clockspeed industries. Our study makes important managerial contributions to the systemic design, engineering, and management of CNs.

A method for the identification of collaboration in large scientific databases

The analysis of scientific collaboration networks has contributed significantly to improve the understanding of the collaboration process between researchers. Additionally, it has helped to understand how scientific productions by researchers and research groups evolve. However, the identification of collaborations in large scientific databases is not a trivial task, given the high computational cost of the prevalent methods. This paper proposes a method for identifying collaborations in large scientific databases, namely, ISColl – Identification of Scientific Collaboration. Unlike methods that use techniques such as exhaustive comparisons of publication pairs, the proposed method produces satisfactory results with a low computational cost, thus providing an interesting alternative for the modelling and characterization of large scientific collaboration networks. To demonstrate the potential of the proposed technique, tests were conducted using scientific publications data registered in the Lattes Platform of CNPq, with the obtained results yielding excellent accuracy during the identification of scientific collaborations.

Mapping the scientific research in organic farming: a bibliometric review

The main aim of this study was to analyze the scientific productivity, collaboration and impact of research on organic agriculture through bibliometric analyses of articles included in the Science Citation Index Expanded database for the period 1954---2013. A number of 1009 research articles were published in 359 journals belonging to several subject areas, being Agriculture Multidisciplinary, Agronomy and Environmental Sciences the most productive. A social network analysis of collaboration between small countries and co-words was performed in order to analyze the most powerful scientific cooperation. The results highlight the important of the collaboration between small countries from north and eastern of Europe, as well as four non-European countries along with the US: Canada, Australia, Brazil and China, which is consistent with the importance that the consumption of products derived from organic farming has in these countries.

Global trends in scientific production in enology and viticulture in selected emerging economies (BRIC)

The aim of this study was to analyse the scientific productivity of the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) in viticulture and oenology through bibliometric analyses of articles in the Science Citation Index Expanded database for the period 1993---2012. A total of 1067 research articles were published in 363 domestic and international journals. We highlight important growth during the mentioned period in the published research papers, particularly in China and Brazil over the last 5 years. Papers have been published in numerous journals in a number of subject areas, such as Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura and Pesquisa Agropecuaria Brasileira, which are the most productive among the BRIC countries. A social network analysis of collaboration between each of the four BRIC countries was also performed.

Bayesian Models of Graphs, Arrays and Other Exchangeable Random Structures.

The natural habitat of most Bayesian methods is data represented by exchangeable sequences of observations, for which de Finetti's theorem provides the theoretical foundation. Dirichlet process clustering, Gaussian process regression, and many other parametric and nonparametric Bayesian models fall within the remit of this framework; many problems arising in modern data analysis do not. This article provides an introduction to Bayesian models of graphs, matrices, and other data that can be modeled by random structures. We describe results in probability theory that generalize de Finetti's theorem to such data and discuss their relevance to nonparametric Bayesian modeling. With the basic ideas in place, we survey example models available in the literature; applications of such models include collaborative filtering, link prediction, and graph and network analysis. We also highlight connections to recent developments in graph theory and probability, and sketch the more general mathematical foundation of Bayesian methods for other types of data beyond sequences and arrays.

Social network analysis of international scientific collaboration on psychiatry research.

BackgroundMental disorder is harmful to human health, effects social life seriously and still brings a heavy burden for countries all over the world. Scientific collaboration has become the indispensable choice for progress in the field of biomedicine. However, there have been few scientific publications on scientific collaboration in psychiatry research so far. The aim of this study was to measure the activities of scientific collaboration in psychiatry research at the level of authors, institutions and countries.MethodsWe retrieved 36557 papers about psychiatry from Science Ciation Index Expanded (SCI-Expanded) in web of science. Additionally, some methods such as social network analysis (SNA), K-plex analysis and Core-Periphery were used in this study.ResultsCollaboration has been increasing at the level of authors, institutions and countries in psychiatry in the last ten years. We selected the top 100 prolific authors, institutions and 30 countries to construct collaborative map respectively. Freedman, R and Seidman, LJ were the central authors, Harvard university was the central institution and the USA was the central country of the whole network. Notably, the rate of economic development of countries affected collaborative behavior.ConclusionThe results show that we should encourage multiple collaboration types in psychiatry research as they not only help researchers to master the current research hotspots but also provide scientific basis for clinical research on psychiatry and suggest policies to promote the development of this area.

Collaborative Social Network Analysis and Content-based Approach to Improve the Marketing Strategy of SMEs in Indonesia

Social Network Analysis (SNA) has been applied in several case studies. SNA is applied to enhance the company's marketing strategy as well as small and medium businesses. This research proposes a collaborative model using content-based and user-based approach, with the centrality measurement methods. Content-based approach tends to focus on tweet content analysis of the existing nodes in a network, while the user-based approach focuses on the connections between users in the network twitter. The model will combine the advantages of collaborative content-based and user-based approach, to find the most influential people in a twitter network to make the dissemination of information more effectively and efficiently.

A social network analysis of teaching and research collaboration in a teachers' virtual learning community

AbstractAnalysing the structure of a social network can help us understand the key factors influencing interaction and collaboration in a virtual learning community (VLC). Here, we describe the mechanisms used in social network analysis (SNA) to analyse the social network structure of a VLC for teachers and discuss the relationship between face‐to‐face and online collaborations. In contrast to previous research applying SNA to analyse measuring indexes alone, we emphasise the mechanisms combining SNA, questionnaires, content analysis and focus group interviews—the key methodology to analyse complex interaction in a VLC. On this basis, we present an analysis model for teachers' VLC and apply it to a teachers' VLC known as ‘IRIS’. The study participants comprised 172 K12 teachers aged between 25 and 55 years. This study collected collaboration data from 2006 to 2012 and analysed the social network structure using sociograms, centrality, cohesive subgroups, clique phenomenon, and matrix correlation of SNA. These findings suggest that face‐to‐face and online collaborations are both indispensable in teaching and in research and continuously supplement and remedy each other in professional development. Moreover, the model succeeded in accessing, describing and analysing the social network structure of a VLC.

Identification of Core Journals and Analysis of Collaboration Networks Among Researchers in Ibero America

INTRODUCTION In this paper we survey scientific production published in Ibero American journals in four subject areas: Medicine, Education, Administration & Finance, and Psychology. The aim of the paper is to provide a view of the available state-of-the-art of Ibero American publications in Open Access journals compiled in well-respected repositories such as Redalyc. METHODS The scholarly Open Access production in Ibero America was analysed using data from Redalyc during the period between 2005 and 2007 for the four areas mentioned above, using data and metadata such as author affiliation and subject area. RESULTS The data analysis carried out in this paper identifies those journals that compose the core and first Bradford zone for the subject area in question. These journals are therefore those that condense the majority of relevant articles for a researcher in that particular field. The application of network analysis allows us to map the collaboration networks, per country, of researchers publishing in Ibero America. DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION The analysis presented here reflects the status of journals in the areas in question reflecting the information held in the repository’s database. The authors conclude that a careful revision and improvement of the requirements that editors and journals require of their authors is of paramount importance for emerging online electronic libraries such as Redalyc.

Social capital and governance: a social network analysis of forest biodiversity collaboration in Central Finland

Collaboration between different actors is crucial for responding to the acute need for forest biodiversity conservation. Network theories highlight the importance of information sharing, social cohesion and mutual goals that constitute social capital. We test and demonstrate how these ties relate to each other and which ones are crucial for collaboration in a government funded collaborative network for forest biodiversity and Siberian Jay conservation in Finland. Our analysis shows that short-term governance networks operate on trust. Seemingly, differences in goals can be put aside for a collective good; that is, being able to cooperate and find solutions to conservation issues. Additionally, exchange and flow of information are a necessity in network functions. However, a network may be successful despite difficulties in flow of information, as our case of Siberian Jay Network shows. Using both qualitative and quantitative evidence, our analysis serves as a test for the usefulness of social network analysis method in bringing depth to understanding of both formal and informal governance networks.