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Web links and gender in science: An exploratory analysis

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Abstract

Gender inequalities are prevalent in science despite many initiatives to try to eradicate them. Given the deep-rooted and complex nature of these inequalities there is a continuing need for research into their causes and manifestations. This study analyses one aspect of web communication, hyperlinks, to explore whether they are a potential source of insights into gender differences in this important scientific communication medium. A study of links to life sciences research groups in nine European found little evidence of gender differences, except in Germany. As a consequence, it is argued that hyperlinks are not a promising source of quantitative information about gender differences in communication strategies or online visibility, at least for senior researchers or research groups.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Computing and Information Technology, University of Wolverhampton, Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1SB, UK

    Mike Thelwall

  2. University of Applied Sciences Solothurn Northwestern Switzerland, Switzerland

    Franz Barjak

  3. Nerdi, NIWI, The Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Hildrun Kretschmer

Authors
  1. Mike Thelwall
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  2. Franz Barjak
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  3. Hildrun Kretschmer
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Correspondence to Mike Thelwall.

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Thelwall, M., Barjak, F. & Kretschmer, H. Web links and gender in science: An exploratory analysis. Scientometrics 67, 373–383 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1556/Scient.67.2006.3.3

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