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The correlation between scientific collaboration and citation count at the paper level: a meta-analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Hongquan Shen

    (Nanjing University)

  • Juan Xie

    (Nanjing University)

  • Jiang Li

    (Nanjing University)

  • Ying Cheng

    (Nanjing University)

Abstract

Collaboration has been widely investigated as a prevalent research activity. However, no consensus has been reached about the relationship between scientific collaboration and citation count. Therefore, this study aimed to comprehensively examine the strength and consistency of this relationship, using meta-analytic methods and measuring scientific collaboration by co-authorship. After the literature search and initial selection, 361 relevant papers were found. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 92 papers involving 340 effect sizes were included. A random-effect meta-analysis showed a significant positive and weak correlation between scientific collaboration and citation count (r = 0.146). Tests of publication bias and heterogeneity revealed that the result was reliable. In addition, disciplines, countries, document types and citation sources were found to influence the correlation as moderators significantly. Practical recommendations for research administrators and researchers were provided, including encouraging collaboration and maintaining a cost-benefit balance in collaboration.

Suggested Citation

  • Hongquan Shen & Juan Xie & Jiang Li & Ying Cheng, 2021. "The correlation between scientific collaboration and citation count at the paper level: a meta-analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(4), pages 3443-3470, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:126:y:2021:i:4:d:10.1007_s11192-021-03888-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-021-03888-0
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    Cited by:

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    4. Fan, Lingxu & Guo, Lei & Wang, Xinhua & Xu, Liancheng & Liu, Fangai, 2022. "Does the author’s collaboration mode lead to papers’ different citation impacts? An empirical analysis based on propensity score matching," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 16(4).
    5. Mike Thelwall & Kayvan Kousha & Mahshid Abdoli & Emma Stuart & Meiko Makita & Paul Wilson & Jonathan Levitt, 2023. "Why are coauthored academic articles more cited: Higher quality or larger audience?," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 74(7), pages 791-810, July.
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