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Topic evolution, disruption and resilience in early COVID-19 research
Yi Zhang1, Xiaojing Cai2,3, Caroline V Fry4
1Australian Artificial Intelligence Institute, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007 Australia.
Scientometrics
|March 29, 2021
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted coronavirus research, altering research topics and community cohesion. Epidemiology remained resilient, while Chinese researchers pioneered novel approaches.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Epidemiology
- Scientific Research Impact
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic posed a significant challenge to the global scientific community.
- Resilience theory provides a framework for understanding research community responses to crises.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the trajectory and community of coronavirus research.
- To characterize changes in research topics and knowledge pathways.
Main Methods:
- Extracted terms from early COVID-19 research articles.
- Analyzed epistemic clusters and evolutionary pathways of knowledge.
- Utilized statistical analysis to assess research community cohesion and topic shifts.
Main Results:
- The pandemic substantially disrupted established coronavirus research lines.
- Early COVID-19 research showed less cohesion compared to pre-pandemic research.
- Epidemiology emerged as the most resilient research area.
- Chinese researchers initiated novel research directions.
Conclusions:
- The pandemic induced significant shifts in research focus and community structure.
- The long-term impact on scientific progress and knowledge configuration remains uncertain.
- Future research should investigate the sustainability of pandemic-induced research changes.
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