2019 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
A study of the use of Academic Social Networks by researchers in Japan
| Project/Area Number |
19K14262
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| Research Institution | Nagasaki University |
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Principal Investigator |
メイソン シャネン 長崎大学, 教育学部, 助教 (90756181)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2019-04-01 – 2021-03-31
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| Keywords | bibliometrics / scientometrics / social networking / collaboration / research dissemination / researcher development |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
The first phase of the study involved a review of the current literature, designing the initial quantitative study, collecting and analysing data, and producing the final report. This has now been completed, and the findings have been published in a paper in the journal, Scientometrics, which is a peer-reviewed, international, Q1 journal, the #1 journal in the field of scientometrics. The findings show that Academia.edu adoption and activity is very low, with ResearchGate adoption at thirty per cent of the sample, indicating moderate knowledge and adoption of the platform. Altmetric analysis shows that use of ResearchGate is largely passive, and the interactive features that might facilitate engagement with international researchers are not being exploited. Language and cultural barriers provide one potential explanation for trends in usage, and there is also a need for further training in the various features available to researchers in Japan.
The second phase of the study is almost complete. The questionnaire was developed and recruitment procedures resulted in 508 researchers completing the study. The data has been analysed and the paper is currently being developed. The results show that RG is used a) to acquire published papers and information about research trends more broadly, and b) dissemination of research, although this is largely limited to English-language publications. There is limited use of the platform for networking or identity-building, both needed to facilitate international collaboration.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
The first phase of the study is complete, and the paper has been published. The study involved bibliometric analysis of all 1,771 researchers from the 8 universities in one prefecture of Japan.
However, due to Coronavirus the conference that I wished to attend in order to network with other researchers and gain new knowledge has been postponed until 2021.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
From now the final report from the second phase of the study will be developed and submitted for consideration to a high impact international journal. I will continue my work promoting the study and networking with other researchers in Japan using the platforms under investigation.
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