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'Mini small worlds' of shortest link paths crossing domain boundaries in an academic Web space

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  • Lennart Björneborn

    (Department of Information Studies, Royal School of Library and Information Science)

Abstract

Summary Combining webometric and social network analytic approaches, this study developed a methodology to sample and identify Web links, pages, and sites that function as small-world connectors affecting short link distances along link paths between different topical domains in an academic Web space. The data set comprised 7669 subsites harvested from 109 UK universities. A novel corona-shaped Web graph model revealed reachability structures among the investigated subsites. Shortest link path netsfunctioned as investigable small-world link structures - 'mini small worlds' - generated by deliberate juxtaposition of topically dissimilar subsites. Indicative findings suggest that personal Web page authors and computer science subsites may be important small-world connectors across sites and topics in an academic Web space. Such connectors may counteract balkanization of the Web into insularities of disconnected and unreachable subpopulations.

Suggested Citation

  • Lennart Björneborn, 2006. "'Mini small worlds' of shortest link paths crossing domain boundaries in an academic Web space," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 68(3), pages 395-414, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:68:y:2006:i:3:d:10.1007_s11192-006-0119-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-006-0119-8
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    Cited by:

    1. Gupeng Zhang & Jiancheng Guan & Xielin Liu, 2014. "The impact of small world on patent productivity in China," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 98(2), pages 945-960, February.

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