| Abstract: |
In this study, we develop a theoretical model based on social network theory
to understand how the collaboration (co-authorship) network of scholars
correlates to the research performance of scholars. For this analysis, we use
social network analysis (SNA) measures (i.e., normalized closeness centrality,
normalized betweenness centrality, efficiency, and two types of degree
centrality). The analysis of data shows that the research performance of
scholars is positively correlated with two SNA measures (i.e., weighted degree
centrality and efficiency). In particular, scholars with strong ties (i.e.,
repeated co-authorships, i.e., high weighted degree centrality) show a better
research performance than those with low ties (e.g., single co-authorships
with many different scholars). The results related to efficiency show that
scholars, who maintain a strong co-authorship relationship to only one
co-author of a group of linked co-authors (i.e., co-authors that have joined
publications), perform better than those researchers with many relationships
to the same group of linked co-authors. |