Co-authorship network analysis in health research: method and potential use

Area of Science:

• Health Research
• Bibliometrics
• Social Network Analysis

Background:

• Contemporary academic research relies heavily on scientific collaboration.
• Researchers form teams with diverse skills for multidisciplinary approaches.
• Social network analysis and co-authorship networks are key tools for assessing collaboration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the methodology of co-authorship network analysis in health research.
• To present potential applications of this analytical method.
• To exemplify the approach using global Chikungunya virus vaccine research.

Main Methods:

• Describing the fundamental steps for conducting co-authorship studies in health.
• Presenting common network metrics used in analysis.
• Analyzing the social structure of research networks by identifying actors and connections.

Main Results:

• Co-authorship network analysis reveals the social structure of research collaborations.
• It helps identify leading scientists and institutions within specific research fields.
• The method provides insights into collaboration trends and network dynamics.

Conclusions:

• Co-authorship network analysis is a valuable tool for understanding health research collaborations.
• The methodology can be applied to various health topics, including vaccine development.
• This approach aids in mapping and understanding the global scientific community's efforts.