Abstract
This paper presents preliminary findings of a study that aims to assess the role of large research universities in the global scientific communication system. For this study a special database was created containing the publication output in Web of Science journals of the largest research universities. Its primary aim is to illustrate how a structural analysis of the global academic system may provide policy relevant insights that are crucial for a proper interpretation of bibliometric rankings. It presents two analyses. The first focuses on differences between the US and the European academic system. It is proposed to further analyse and interpret these differences in terms of a distinction between a concentrated and a distributed model of research quality among universities in national or supra-national academic systems. The second analysis is based on a network approach, revealing how the research activities carried out in one university depend upon those conducted in another academic institution. This dependence is measured by citation links. It addresses the question how one can distinguish between 'core', 'intermediate' and 'peripheral' research universities in the network.
Original language | English |
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Pages | 761-765 |
Number of pages | 5 |
State | Published - 2007 |
Externally published | Yes |
Event | 11th International Conference of the International Society for Scientometrics and Informetrics, ISSI 2007 - Madrid, Spain Duration: 25 Jun 2007 → 27 Jun 2007 |
Conference
Conference | 11th International Conference of the International Society for Scientometrics and Informetrics, ISSI 2007 |
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Country/Territory | Spain |
City | Madrid |
Period | 25/06/07 → 27/06/07 |
Keywords
- Citation impact
- Citation networks
- Concentrated vs. distributed models
- National academic systems
- Rankings
- World universities