Research programme


SCIENTOMETRICS; 2009; 81(1):111 - 122

Mapping review networks: Exploring research community roles and contributions

Authors: Zuccala A, van den Besselaar P
Affiliations: Rathenau Institute

Abstract:
In this paper we investigate the position of a review network within a research specialty; the network of scholars who write reviews of their colleagues' work. This is one of the voluntary activities that researchers perform as a prerequisite for the functioning of the invisible college. We compare this network to other networks within the specialty, and this allows us to distinguish various roles: stars, influentials, members, reviewers and juniors. As scholars are characterized by different role-configurations, the invisible college becomes stratified. We discuss the implications for the development of a referee factor and review factor, norms for refereeing and reviewing, and the development of systems-based research evaluations.

Publication type:
Article in Journal

Journals:
Scientometrics
  
Authors (1)
  
Dr. A. (Alesia) Zuccala
Centre for Science and Technology Studies
Researcher. Masters of Library and Information Science (M.L.I.S.), University of Western Ontario, Canada. Ph.D. Information Science, University of Toronto, Canada. Involved in bibliometric evaluation projects and CWTS graduate course lecturer. Current research interests: citation theory; open ...