The inverted U-shaped relationship between knowledge diversity of researchers and societal impact
Abstract With the increasing importance of interdisciplinary research, some studies have focused on the role of reference diversity by analysing reference lists of published papers. However, the relationship between the knowledge diversity of collaborating team members and research performance has b...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2022-11-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-21821-0 |
| _version_ | 1828309727286657024 |
|---|---|
| author | Gaofeng Wang Yetong Gan Haodong Yang |
| author_facet | Gaofeng Wang Yetong Gan Haodong Yang |
| author_sort | Gaofeng Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract With the increasing importance of interdisciplinary research, some studies have focused on the role of reference diversity by analysing reference lists of published papers. However, the relationship between the knowledge diversity of collaborating team members and research performance has been overlooked. In this study, we measured knowledge diversity through the disciplinary attributes of collaborating authors and research performance (understood as societal impact) through altmetric data. The major findings are: (1) The relationship between interdisciplinary collaboration diversity and societal impact is not a simple linear one, showing an inverted U-shaped pattern; and (2) As the number of collaborative disciplines increases, the marginal effects diminish or even become outweighed by the costs, showing a predominance of negative influences. Hence, diversity in interdisciplinary collaboration does not always have a positive impact. Research collaborations need to take into account the cost issues associated with the diversity of member disciplines. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T15:33:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6fe3c5ac372344f5aa22a00421e88ea7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T15:33:00Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-6fe3c5ac372344f5aa22a00421e88ea72022-12-22T02:41:19ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-11-0112111010.1038/s41598-022-21821-0The inverted U-shaped relationship between knowledge diversity of researchers and societal impactGaofeng Wang0Yetong Gan1Haodong Yang2School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Science and Technology of ChinaSchool of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Science and Technology of ChinaSchool of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Science and Technology of ChinaAbstract With the increasing importance of interdisciplinary research, some studies have focused on the role of reference diversity by analysing reference lists of published papers. However, the relationship between the knowledge diversity of collaborating team members and research performance has been overlooked. In this study, we measured knowledge diversity through the disciplinary attributes of collaborating authors and research performance (understood as societal impact) through altmetric data. The major findings are: (1) The relationship between interdisciplinary collaboration diversity and societal impact is not a simple linear one, showing an inverted U-shaped pattern; and (2) As the number of collaborative disciplines increases, the marginal effects diminish or even become outweighed by the costs, showing a predominance of negative influences. Hence, diversity in interdisciplinary collaboration does not always have a positive impact. Research collaborations need to take into account the cost issues associated with the diversity of member disciplines.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-21821-0 |
| spellingShingle | Gaofeng Wang Yetong Gan Haodong Yang The inverted U-shaped relationship between knowledge diversity of researchers and societal impact Scientific Reports |
| title | The inverted U-shaped relationship between knowledge diversity of researchers and societal impact |
| title_full | The inverted U-shaped relationship between knowledge diversity of researchers and societal impact |
| title_fullStr | The inverted U-shaped relationship between knowledge diversity of researchers and societal impact |
| title_full_unstemmed | The inverted U-shaped relationship between knowledge diversity of researchers and societal impact |
| title_short | The inverted U-shaped relationship between knowledge diversity of researchers and societal impact |
| title_sort | inverted u shaped relationship between knowledge diversity of researchers and societal impact |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-21821-0 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gaofengwang theinvertedushapedrelationshipbetweenknowledgediversityofresearchersandsocietalimpact AT yetonggan theinvertedushapedrelationshipbetweenknowledgediversityofresearchersandsocietalimpact AT haodongyang theinvertedushapedrelationshipbetweenknowledgediversityofresearchersandsocietalimpact AT gaofengwang invertedushapedrelationshipbetweenknowledgediversityofresearchersandsocietalimpact AT yetonggan invertedushapedrelationshipbetweenknowledgediversityofresearchersandsocietalimpact AT haodongyang invertedushapedrelationshipbetweenknowledgediversityofresearchersandsocietalimpact |