Embedding funding consultation in library services: A co-occurrences network analysis of knowledge flow in scientific funding
ISSN: 0737-8831
Article publication date: 23 May 2018
Issue publication date: 4 June 2018
Abstract
Purpose
Although interdisciplinary research is an increasing trend in scientific funding projects, they are suffering from a lower probability of being funded. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the current situation on successful case of funding application and provides suggestions on how libraries can expand services to help scientific funding application.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper utilizes the co-occurrences of disciplinary application codes to construct an interdisciplinary knowledge flow network. Based on 193517 sponsored projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the authors study the interdisciplinary flow of knowledge and investigate the evolution of network structure using social network analysis.
Findings
Results show that the interdisciplinary knowledge flow network is not only a small-world network but also a scale-free network. Two main knowledge flow paths across scientific departments exist, showing the heterogeneity of knowledge distributions across scientific disciplines. The authors also find that if two disciplines in the same scientific department both have a wide influence to other disciplines, they are more prone to link together and create a knowledge chain.
Originality/value
Funding consultation currently has not occupied an advisory role either in library services or in the research team. This paper conducts a co-occurrences network analysis of interdisciplinary knowledge flow in scientific funding projects. Considering the complexity of funding application and the advantage of traditional library services on information collection, integration, and utilization, the authors conclude the possibility and necessity of embedding funding consultation in traditional library services.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 71373194) and also supported by “the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities”.
Citation
Wu, J., Cai, J., Jin, M. and Dong, K. (2018), "Embedding funding consultation in library services: A co-occurrences network analysis of knowledge flow in scientific funding", Library Hi Tech, Vol. 36 No. 3, pp. 378-399. https://doi.org/10.1108/LHT-06-2017-0127
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited