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Sharunizam Shari, Gaby Haddow and Paul Genoni
The purpose of this paper is to describe the methods and findings of a pilot study which applied bibliometrics and webometrics to examine collaboration in Malaysian biotechnology.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe the methods and findings of a pilot study which applied bibliometrics and webometrics to examine collaboration in Malaysian biotechnology.
Design/methodology/approach
The research applied bibliometric and webometric methods to publications and web sites affiliated with Malaysian institutions. The bibliometric analysis focused on biotechnology‐related journal articles indexed in Web of Knowledge. The webometric analysis examined the web sites of top biotechnology institutions generated in the bibliometric analysis. Collaboration behaviour was assessed in three ways: intra‐institutional versus inter‐institutional; national versus international collaboration; and by type of institution collaboration according to the triple helix model.
Findings
Findings of the pilot study, which applied bibliometric and webometric analyses to a limited sample, indicate that the methodologies will collect the desired data for a more extensive study.
Research limitations/implications
The quantitative research results describe the collaboration evident in publications and web sites, but not why it has happened in such a way.
Practical implications
The methodologies provide a framework for similar research exploring the impacts of collaboration in an e‐research environment. The methodology is innovative and practical in terms of the combined use of bibliometric and webometric analyses.
Originality/value
This is one of few studies that has examined collaboration using both bibliometric and webometric methods, and elements of the methodology appear to be unique to the study. The methodologies will contribute to an emerging body of literature that explores the nature of research productivity and research collaboration.
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The paper seeks to describe the establishment and progress of an online initiative: RIC – Researching the Information Commons.
Abstract
Purpose
The paper seeks to describe the establishment and progress of an online initiative: RIC – Researching the Information Commons.
Design/methodology/approach
Who has really challenged and thought through in a research sense about the issues that surround the commons provision of information; a concept dear to the hearts of many of the world's librarians? This question leads to the development of a researcher networking initiative, represented on the web as RIC (http://infocommons.curtin.edu.au).
Findings
The web site has a growing number of participants, not all working together, but who are interested in information commons matters from a research point of view.
Research limitations/implications
RIC is a federated network of colleagues researching in this many faceted arena and it is slowly gathering momentum. Expressions of interest to join have been sought, and a web site has been developed.
Practical implications
RIC will operate through: openness and feedback; shared decision making; diversity within the commons; honouring social and legal equity amongst its members; and fostering sociability within the commons.
Social implications
The vision for the RIC Group is to nurture and mentor a community of researchers interested in matters relating to the information commons, by being in itself an information commons.
Originality/value
The topic of information commons has considerable use and currency but there appears to be only one RIC.