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A measure of reliability for scientific co-authorship networks using fuzzy logic

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Abstract

Studies on the reliability of scientific co-authorship networks identify whether they are reliable, according to their researchers’ participation and how strong the co-authorship relationships are. Co-authorship among members of a research group can usually be represented by a graph in which each node represents one of the researchers belonging to this group, and each edge represents a connection (co-authorship relationship) between two researchers. The aim of this investigation is to propose a mathematical analysis using fuzzy logic to estimate the reliability of scientific co-authorship networks, based on node centrality measures and the existence of uncertainties in estimating the reliability of the individual components (researchers). To develop the proposed methodology, a research group from São Paulo State University–UNESP registered with the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) in Brazil was analysed. The results show the simplicity of implementation and the viability of mathematical modelling to estimate the reliability of scientific co-authorship networks.

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Notes

  1. Network is a physical, biological or social system characterised by a large set of well-defined entities interacting dynamically with each other.

  2. A graph is simple, abstract and intuitive information that represents some form of relationship among items. It is a figure with nodes (representing the items) joined by edges (making up the imagined relationship).

  3. Subgraph is a graph obtained from G by eliminating of some of its nodes and/or edges without making it unconnected.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank CNPq for the financial support for the research (Notice 18/2012; Process 406626/2012-0).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. São Paulo State University – UNESP, Tupã, São Paulo, 17602-496, Brazil

    Sandra Cristina de Oliveira & Danilo Florentino Pereira

  2. Universidade de São Paulo – USP, São Carlos, São Paulo, 13560-970, Brazil

    Juliana Cobre

Authors
  1. Sandra Cristina de Oliveira
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  2. Juliana Cobre
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  3. Danilo Florentino Pereira
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Correspondence to Juliana Cobre.

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de Oliveira, S.C., Cobre, J. & Pereira, D.F. A measure of reliability for scientific co-authorship networks using fuzzy logic. Scientometrics 126, 4551–4563 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-021-03915-0

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