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How Multidisciplinary Are the Multidisciplinary Journals Science and Nature?
Gregg E A Solomon1,2, Stephen Carley3, Alan L Porter4,5
1Division of Research on Learning, National Science Foundation, Arlington, Virginia, United States of America.
Plos One
|April 5, 2016
Summary
Leading multidisciplinary journals like Nature and Science show similar interdisciplinary research integration as specialized journals. However, their high impact factor significantly boosts cross-disciplinary knowledge diffusion.
Area of Science:
- Bibliometrics
- Scientific Communication
- Interdisciplinary Studies
Background:
- Cross-disciplinary research and knowledge exchange are increasingly valued in science.
- Funding agencies, like the U.S. National Science Foundation, encourage research dissemination across disciplinary boundaries.
- Publication in top-tier multidisciplinary journals (Nature, Science) is often seen as a benchmark for interdisciplinary success.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively compare the interdisciplinary nature of articles published in Nature and Science versus leading disciplinary journals.
- To assess the extent of cross-disciplinary knowledge integration within individual articles.
- To evaluate the diffusion of research influence across different scientific fields.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of research articles from Cell Biology, Physical Chemistry, and Cognitive Science.
- Articles were sampled from leading disciplinary journals within each field and from Nature and Science.
- Bibliometric methods were used to assess interdisciplinary integration and diffusion.
Main Results:
- Interdisciplinary knowledge integration was found to be comparable between articles in Nature/Science and leading disciplinary journals.
- Differences in cross-disciplinary diffusion rates were modest.
- Despite comparable diffusion rates, the high Journal Impact Factors of Nature and Science led to greater knowledge diffusion in certain fields (Physical Chemistry, Cognitive Science).
Conclusions:
- Nature and Science demonstrate comparable levels of interdisciplinary integration to specialized journals.
- The significant reach of Nature and Science amplifies their impact on cross-disciplinary knowledge diffusion, particularly in specific scientific domains.
