A study of the use of Academic Social Networks by researchers in Japan

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K14262
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 09050:Tertiary education-related
• Research Institution: Nagasaki University
• Principal Investigator: Mason Shannon 長崎大学, 教育学部, 准教授 (90756181)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: Researcher / Development / Internationalisation / Network / Collaboration

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this research, I investigated the use of Academic Social Networks (ASNs) by researchers in Japan, as one potential set of tools to promote international collaboration and engagement. In the first phase of the study, I looked at the use of different ASNs in one area of Japan, and determined that ASNs are not regaularly used by researchers in Japan. However, it was found that ResearchGate (RG) was the most well-known. In the second phase of the study, we looked at how researchers in Japan use RG for accessing international literature, sharing research, and networking. Particularly, we found that the networking function of this tool was underutilized. In the final phase of the study, a series of 9 online videos was developed to support researchers in Japan who wish to use ASNs as part of their internationalisation.

Free Research Field

Higher Education

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

この研究は、世界中の研究者と共同研究するという研究者へのプレッシャーが高まっている時代において、日本の研究者の国際化に貢献します。