This study proposes to modify the traditional main path analysis (MPA) by assigning weights reflecting degrees of relatedness between the cited and the citing patents according to their... Show moreThis study proposes to modify the traditional main path analysis (MPA) by assigning weights reflecting degrees of relatedness between the cited and the citing patents according to their classification symbols using generalized Jaccard coefficients. In this way, this study expects that the lineage of knowledge dissemination or technological development may be more clearly captured. According to observations based on empirical data, the modified MPA indeed better identifies development lineages in an earlier stage when the citation network is limited. The modified MPA may also identify additional trajectories of separate technology development in an intermediate stage, which may be overlooked by the traditional MPA. Show less
