Links in science : linking network and bibliometric analyses in the study of research performance

Abstract

The research described in this thesis aims to establish the use of detailed collaboration and citation analysis combined with other forms of bibliometric analysis as a tool enabling a better understanding of the organization of scientific communities and the way knowledge is spread inside scientific communities. In the study of collaboration networks the main goal is to identify existing research groups, potential research groups, and patterns of collaboration. The analysis of citations networks through specific measures and metrics, on the other hand, makes it possible to identify main lines of research through the years. Thus, such analyses improve our understanding of the growth and decline of fields, including phenomena such as paradigm shifts and emerging research themes. Network measures and metrics also allow for the identification of important nodes (e.g., journals, articles) embedded in the citation network.