Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Measuring regional science networks in China: a comparison of international and domestic bibliographic data sources

  • Published:
Scientometrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Bibliographic databases are frequently used and analysed for the purpose of assessing the capacity and performance of individual researchers or entire research systems. Many of the advantages and disadvantages are the subject of continued discussion in the relevant literature, although only rarely with respect to the regional dimension of scientific publication activity. The importance of the regional dimension of science is reflected in many theoretical concepts, ranging from innovation system theories to territorial cluster concepts and learning regions. This article makes use of the extensive information found in bibliographic data and assesses the reliability of this information as a proxy indicator for the spatial dimension of scientific collaboration in emerging economies. This is undertaken using the example of the emerging field of biotechnology in China from 2000 onwards. Two data sets have been prepared: (1) the frequently used ISI Web of Knowledge database (SCI-Expanded) and (2) the domestic Chinese Chongqing VIP database. Both data sources were analysed using a variety of bibliometric and network scientific methods. The structural and topological similarity of networks, built from co-authorship data, is apparent between the two databases. At an abstract level, general network forces are present, resulting in similar network sizes, clustering, or assortativity. However, introducing additional complexity through regional subdivision reveals many differences between the two data sources that must be accounted for in the analytic design of future scientometric research in dynamic spaces.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. The exact search string was “CU = China AND (TS = ((Cell OR Enzyme OR Applied) SAME Bio*) OR TS = Bionic)”.

References

  • Anderson, B. S., Butts, C., & Carley, K. (1999). The interaction of size and density with graph-level indices. Social Networks, 21(3), 239–267.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barabási, A.-L., & Albert, R. (1999). Emergence of scaling in random networks. Science, 286(5439), 509–512.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Basu, A. (2010). Does a country’s scientific ‘productivity depend’ critically on the number of country journals indexed? Scientometrics, 82(3), 507–516.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cooke, P., Heidenreich, M., & Braczyk, H.-J. (Eds.). (2004). Regional innovation systems. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deng, M., & He, T. W. (2004). Science-metrics analysis of collaborative characters of basic research of biochemistry and molecular biology in China. Science of Science and Management of S&T, 25(9), 10–12 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Dolfsma, W., & Soete, L. (Eds.). (2006). Understanding the dynamics of a knowledge economy. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.

    Google Scholar 

  • Etzkowitz, H., & Leydesdorff, L. (2000). The dynamics of innovation: From National Systems and “mode 2” to a triple helix of university–industry–government relations. Research Policy, 29(2), 109–124.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frenken, K., Hardeman, S., & Hoekman, J. (2009). Spatial scientometrics: Towards a cumulative research program. Journal of Informetrics, 3(3), 222–232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao, X., & Guan, J. (2009). A scale-independent analysis of the performance of the Chinese innovation system. Journal of Informetrics, 3(4), 321–331.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gu, J. M. (2009). Analysis of the policy on the professional development of academic staff: A case study of Zhejiang University. China Higher Education Research, 5, 52–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guan, J., & Gao, X. (2008). Comparison and evaluation of Chinese research performance in the field of bioinformatics. Scientometrics, 75(2), 357–379.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guan, J., & He, Y. (2005). Comparison and evaluation of domestic and international outputs in Information Science & Technology Research of China. Scientometrics, 65(2), 215–244.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guan, J. C., & Ma, N. (2007). China’s emerging presence in nanoscience and nanotechnology. A comparative bibliometric study of several nanoscience ‘giants’. Research Policy, 36(6), 880–886.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haas, P. M. (1992). Introduction: Epistemic communities and international policy coordination. International Organization, 46(1), 1–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hennemann, S., Rybski, D., & Liefner, I. (2010). The myth of global science. Paper presented at the ERSA conference 2010, Jönköping, Sweden.

  • Jin, B. H., & Wang, B. (1999). Chinese science citation database: Its construction and application. Scientometrics, 45(2), 325–332.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jonkers, K. (2009). Emerging ties: Factors underlying China‘s co-publication patterns with Western European and North American research systems in three molecular life science subfields. Scientometrics, 80(3), 775–795.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katz, J. S., & Martin, B. R. (1997). What is research collaboration? Research Policy, 26(1), 1–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laudel, G. (2002). What do we measure by co-authorships? Research Evaluation, 11(1), 3–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, L., & Yang, G. (2004). Comparative study of two Chinese full-text journal databases. Modern Information, 5, 2–7 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Liang, L. (2003). Evaluating China’s research performance: How do SCI and Chinese indexes compare? Interdisciplinary Science Reviews, 28(1), 38–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liang, L., & Zhu, L. (2002). Major factors affecting China’s inter-regional research collaboration: Regional scientific productivity and geographical proximity. Scientometrics, 55(2), 287–316.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Liefner, I., & Hennemann, S. (2011). Structural holes and new dimensions of distance: The spatial configuration of the Scientific Knowledge Network of China‘s Optical Technology Sector. Environment and Planning A. doi:10.1068/a43100.

  • Lin, M.-W., & Zhang, J. (2007). Language trends in nanoscience and technology: The case of Chinese-language publications. Scientometrics, 70(3), 555–564.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lundberg, J., Tomson, G., Lundkvist, I., Skor, J., & Brommels, M. (2006). Collaboration uncovered: Exploring the adequacy of measuring university–industry collaboration through co-authorship and funding. Scientometrics, 69(3), 575–589.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lundvall, B.-Å. (Ed.). (1992). National systems of innovation: Towards a theory of innovation and interactive learning. London: Pinter.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma, N., & Guan, J. C. (2005). An exploratory study on collaboration profiles of Chinese publications in molecular biology. Scientometrics, 65(3), 343–355.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Maslov, S., & Sneppen, K. (2002). Specificity and stability in topology of protein networks. Science, 296(5569), 910–913.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meho, L. I., & Yang, K. (2007). Impact of data sources on citation counts and rankings of LIS faculty: Web of science versus Scopus and Google scholar. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 58(13), 2105–2125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mély, B., El Kader, A., Dudognon, G., & Okubo, Y. (1998). Scientific publications of China in 1994: Evolution of revolution? Scientometrics, 42(1), 3–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moed, H. F. (2002). Measuring China’s research performance using the Science Citation Index. Scientometrics, 53(3), 281–296.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Newman, M. E. J., & Park, J. (2003). Why social networks are different from other types of networks. Physical Review E, 68(3), 036122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Norris, M., & Oppenheim, C. (2007). Comparing alternatives to the Web of Science for coverage of the social sciences’ literature. Journal of Informetrics, 1(2), 161–169.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Otte, E., & Rousseau, R. (2002). Social network analysis: A powerful strategy, also for the information sciences. Journal of Information Science, 28(6), 441–453.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ponten, S. C., Daffertshofer, A., Hillebrand, A., & Stam, C. J. (2010). The relationship between structural and functional connectivity: Graph theoretical analysis of an EEG neural mass model. NeuroImage, 52, 985–994.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Porter, M. E. (1990). The competitive advantage of nations. New York: The Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ren, S., & Rousseau, R. (2002). International visibility of Chinese scientific journals. Scientometrics, 53(3), 389–405.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Royle, J., Coles, L., Williams, D., & Evans, P. (2007). Publishing in international journals—An examination of trends in Chinese co-authorship. Scientometrics, 71(1), 59–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Wijk, B. C. M., Stam, C. J., & Daffertshofer, A. (2010). Comparing brain networks of different size and connectivity density using graph theory. PLoS ONE, 5(10), e13701.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wan, J.-k., Hua, P.-h., Rousseau, R., & Sun, X.-k. (2010). The journal download immediacy index (DII): experiences using a Chinese full-text database. Scientometrics, 82(3), 555–566.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, S., Wang, H., & Weldon, P. R. (2007). Bibliometric analysis of English-language academic journals of China and their internationalization. Scientometrics, 73(3), 331–343.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Y., Wu, Y. S., Pan, Y. T., Ma, Z., & Rousseau, R. (2005). Scientific collaboration in China as reflected in co-authorship. Scientometrics, 62(2), 183–198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wasserman, S., & Faust, K. (1994). Social network analysis: Methods and applications. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watts, D. J., & Strogatz, S. H. (1998). Collective dynamics of ‘small-world’ networks. Nature, 393, 440–442.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weisberg, M., & Muldoon, R. (2009). Epistemic landscapes and the division of cognitive labor. Philosophy of Science, 76(4), 225–252.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, Y., Pan, Y., Zhang, Y., Ma, Z., Pang, J., Guo, H., et al. (2004). China Scientific and Technical Papers and Citations (CSTPC): History, impact and outlook. Scientometrics, 60(3), 385–397.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, F., Cooke, P., & Wu, F. (2010). State-sponsored research and development: A case study of China’s Biotechnology. Regional Studies (online first).

  • Zhang, H., & Guo, H. (1997). Scientific research collaboration in China. Scientometrics, 38(2), 309–319.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, J., & Guo, J. (2002). The restructuring of China’s higher education: An experience for market economy and knowledge economy. Educational Philosophy and Theory, 34(2), 207–222.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, P., & Leydesdorff, L. (2006). The emergence of China as a leading nation in science. Research Policy, 35(1), 83–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, P., & Leydesdorff, L. (2007). A comparison between the china scientific and technical papers and citations database and the Science Citation Index in terms of Journal Hierarchies and Interjournal Citation Relations. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 58(2), 223–236.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, P., Thijs, B., & Glänzel, W. (2009). Regional analysis on Chinese scientific output. Scientometrics, 81(3), 839–857.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Wang Tao appreciates a travel grant from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). This research was supported by the National Science Foundation of China (NSFC) under grant #40971069. The authors thank two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, Economic Geography, Justus Liebig University of Giessen, Senckenbergstrasse 1, 35390, Giessen, Germany

    S. Hennemann & I. Liefner

  2. School of Geography Science, Nanjing Normal University, 1 Wenyuan Road, Nanjing, 210046, China

    T. Wang

Authors
  1. S. Hennemann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. T. Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. I. Liefner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Hennemann.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hennemann, S., Wang, T. & Liefner, I. Measuring regional science networks in China: a comparison of international and domestic bibliographic data sources. Scientometrics 88, 535–554 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-011-0410-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-011-0410-1

Keywords

Mathematics Subject Classification (2000)

JEL Classification

Search

Navigation