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Co-authorship networks: a review of the literature

Sameer Kumar (Asia-Europe Institute, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

Aslib Journal of Information Management

ISSN: 2050-3806

Article publication date: 19 January 2015

3989

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to attempt to provide a review of the growing literature on co-authorship networks and the research gaps that may be investigated for future studies in this field.

Design/methodology/approach

The existing literature on co-authorship networks was identified, evaluated and interpreted. Narrative review style was followed.

Findings

Co-authorship, a proxy of research collaboration, is a key mechanism that links different sets of talent to produce a research output. Co-authorship could also be seen from the perspective of social networks. An in-depth analysis of such knowledge networks provides an opportunity to investigate its structure. Patterns of these relationships could reveal, for example, the mechanism that shapes our scientific community. The study provides a review of the expanding literature on co-authorship networks.

Originality/value

This is one of the first comprehensive reviews of network-based studies on co-authorship. The field is fast evolving, opening new gaps for potential research. The study identifies some of these gaps.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The study is supported by University of Malaya, project number: RP020D-14AFR.

Citation

Kumar, S. (2015), "Co-authorship networks: a review of the literature", Aslib Journal of Information Management, Vol. 67 No. 1, pp. 55-73. https://doi.org/10.1108/AJIM-09-2014-0116

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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