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Social capital in academia

Author

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  • Claudia N. Gonzalez-Brambila

    (ITAM)

Abstract

This paper provides useful insights for the design of networks that promote research productivity. The results suggest that the different dimensions of social capital affect scientific performance differently depending on the area of knowledge. Overall, dense networks negatively affect the creation of new knowledge. In addition, the analysis shows that a division of labor in academia, in the sense of interdisciplinary research, increases the productivity of researchers. It is also found that the position in a network is critical. Researchers who are central tend to create more knowledge. Finally, the findings suggest that the number of ties have a positive impact on future productivity. Related to areas of knowledge, Exact Sciences is the area in which social capital has a stronger impact on research performance. On the other side, Social and Humanities, as well as Engineering, are the ones in which social capital has a lesser effect. The differences found across multiple domains of science suggest the need to consider this heterogeneity in policy design.

Suggested Citation

  • Claudia N. Gonzalez-Brambila, 2014. "Social capital in academia," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 101(3), pages 1609-1625, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:101:y:2014:i:3:d:10.1007_s11192-014-1424-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-014-1424-2
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    Cited by:

    1. Ben Zhang & Xiaohong Wang, 2017. "Empirical study on influence of university-industry collaboration on research performance and moderating effect of social capital: evidence from engineering academics in China," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 113(1), pages 257-277, October.
    2. Fernando Martín-Alcázar & Marta Ruiz-Martínez & Gonzalo Sánchez-Gardey, 2019. "Assessing social capital in academic research teams: a measurement instrument proposal," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 121(2), pages 917-935, November.
    3. Shan Jiang & Hsinchun Chen, 2019. "Examining patterns of scientific knowledge diffusion based on knowledge cyber infrastructure: a multi-dimensional network approach," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 121(3), pages 1599-1617, December.
    4. Jorge Rodriguez Miramontes & C. N. Gonzalez-Brambila, 2016. "The effects of external collaboration on research output in engineering," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 109(2), pages 661-675, November.
    5. Lutter, Mark & Habicht, Isabel M. & Schröder, Martin, 2022. "Gender differences in the determinants of becoming a professor in Germany. An event history analysis of academic psychologists from 1980 to 2019," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(6).
    6. Daniela Aguirre-Guerrero & Roberto Bernal-Jaquez, 2023. "A Methodology for the Analysis of Collaboration Networks with Higher-Order Interactions," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-17, May.

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