IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/scient/v88y2011i3d10.1007_s11192-011-0416-8.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Characteristics of research in China assessed with Essential Science Indicators

Author

Listed:
  • Hui-Zhen Fu

    (Peking University)

  • Kun-Yang Chuang

    (Taipei Medical University)

  • Ming-Huang Wang

    (Peking University)

  • Yuh-Shan Ho

    (Peking University
    Asia University)

Abstract

To provide an overview of the characteristics of research in China, a bibliometric evaluation of highly cited papers with high-level representation was conducted during the period from 1999 to 2009 based on the Essential Science Indicators (ESI) database. A comprehensive assessment covered overall performance, journals, subject categories, internationally collaborative countries, national inter-institutionally collaborative institutions, and most-cited papers in 22 scientific fields. China saw a strong growth in scientific publications in the last decade, to some extent due to increasing research and development expenditure. China has been more active in ESI fields of chemistry and physics, but more excellent in materials science, engineering and mathematics. Most publications were concerned with the common Science Citation Index subject categories of multidisciplinary chemistry, multidisciplinary materials and science, and physical chemistry. About one half China’s ESC papers were internationally collaborative and the eight major industrialized countries (the USA, Germany, the UK, Japan, France, Canada, Russia, and Italy) played a prominent role in scientific collaboration with China, especially the USA. The Chinese Academy of Sciences took the leading position of institutions with many branches. The “985 Project” stimulated the most productive institutions for academic research with a huge funding injection and the universities in Hong Kong showed good scientific performance. The citation impact of internationally collaborative papers differed among fields and international collaborations made positive contributions to academic research in China.

Suggested Citation

  • Hui-Zhen Fu & Kun-Yang Chuang & Ming-Huang Wang & Yuh-Shan Ho, 2011. "Characteristics of research in China assessed with Essential Science Indicators," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 88(3), pages 841-862, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:88:y:2011:i:3:d:10.1007_s11192-011-0416-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-011-0416-8
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11192-011-0416-8
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11192-011-0416-8?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jiancheng Guan & Xia Gao, 2008. "Comparison and evaluation of Chinese research performance in the field of bioinformatics," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 75(2), pages 357-379, May.
    2. Olle Persson, 2010. "Are highly cited papers more international?," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 83(2), pages 397-401, May.
    3. Huang Yi & Xiaolan Ao & Yuh-Shan Ho, 2008. "Use of citation per publication as an indicator to evaluate pentachlorophenol research," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 75(1), pages 67-80, April.
    4. Moed, H. F. & Burger, W. J. M. & Frankfort, J. G. & Van Raan, A. F. J., 1985. "The use of bibliometric data for the measurement of university research performance," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 14(3), pages 131-149, June.
    5. Guan, Jiancheng & Ma, Nan, 2007. "China's emerging presence in nanoscience and nanotechnology: A comparative bibliometric study of several nanoscience `giants'," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(6), pages 880-886, July.
    6. Feng Zhou & Huai-Cheng Guo & Yuh-Shan Ho & Chao-Zhong Wu, 2007. "Scientometric analysis of geostatistics using multivariate methods," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 73(3), pages 265-279, December.
    7. Martin, Ben R. & Irvine, John, 1993. "Assessing basic research : Some partial indicators of scientific progress in radio astronomy," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 22(2), pages 106-106, April.
    8. Jiancheng Guan & Nan Ma, 2007. "A bibliometric study of China’s semiconductor literature compared with other major asian countries," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 70(1), pages 107-124, January.
    9. Rinia, E. J. & van Leeuwen, Th. N. & van Vuren, H. G. & van Raan, A. F. J., 1998. "Comparative analysis of a set of bibliometric indicators and central peer review criteria: Evaluation of condensed matter physics in the Netherlands," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 27(1), pages 95-107, May.
    10. Almeida, J.A.S. & Pais, A.A.C.C. & Formosinho, S.J., 2009. "Science indicators and science patterns in Europe," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 3(2), pages 134-142.
    11. Frank Schwartz & Y.C. Fang, 2007. "Citation data analysis on hydrogeology," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 58(4), pages 518-525, February.
    12. Ling-Li Li & Guohua Ding & Nan Feng & Ming-Huang Wang & Yuh-Shan Ho, 2009. "Global stem cell research trend: Bibliometric analysis as a tool for mapping of trends from 1991 to 2006," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 80(1), pages 39-58, July.
    13. Zhi Li & Yuh-Shan Ho, 2008. "Use of citation per publication as an indicator to evaluate contingent valuation research," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 75(1), pages 97-110, April.
    14. Ming-Huang Wang & Te-Chen Yu & Yuh-Shan Ho, 2010. "A bibliometric analysis of the performance of Water Research," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 84(3), pages 813-820, September.
    15. Zhou, Ping & Leydesdorff, Loet, 2006. "The emergence of China as a leading nation in science," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 83-104, February.
    16. Wolfgang Glänzel & András Schubert & Tibor Braun, 2002. "A relational charting approach to the world of basic research in twelve science fields at the end of the second millennium," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 55(3), pages 335-348, November.
    17. Tianwei He, 2009. "International scientific collaboration of China with the G7 countries," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 80(3), pages 571-582, September.
    18. Ping Zhou & Wolfgang Glänzel, 2010. "In-depth analysis on China’s international cooperation in science," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 82(3), pages 597-612, March.
    19. Dag W Aksnes, 2003. "Characteristics of highly cited papers," Research Evaluation, Oxford University Press, vol. 12(3), pages 159-170, December.
    20. Wen-Ta Chiu & Yuh-Shan Ho, 2005. "Bibliometric analysis of homeopathy research during the period of 1991 to 2003," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 63(1), pages 3-23, March.
    21. Wang-Huu Hsieh & Wen-Ta Chiu & Yee-Shuan Lee & Yuh-Shan Ho, 2004. "Bibliometric analysis of Patent Ductus Arteriosus treatments," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 60(2), pages 105-215, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Fu, Hui-Zhen & Ho, Yuh-Shan, 2013. "Independent research of China in Science Citation Index Expanded during 1980–2011," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 7(1), pages 210-222.
    2. Chaocheng He & Jiang Wu & Qingpeng Zhang, 2021. "Characterizing research leadership on geographically weighted collaboration network," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(5), pages 4005-4037, May.
    3. Nan Zhang & Shanshan Wan & Peiling Wang & Peng Zhang & Qiang Wu, 2018. "A bibliometric analysis of highly cited papers in the field of Economics and Business based on the Essential Science Indicators database," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 116(2), pages 1039-1053, August.
    4. Liu, Li-jun & Cao, Cong & Song, Min, 2014. "China's agricultural patents: How has their value changed amid recent patent boom?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 106-121.
    5. Hamdi A. Al-Jamimi & Galal M. BinMakhashen & Lutz Bornmann, 2022. "Use of bibliometrics for research evaluation in emerging markets economies: a review and discussion of bibliometric indicators," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 127(10), pages 5879-5930, October.
    6. Tamara Krajna & Jelka Petrak, 2019. "Croatian Highly Cited Papers," Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems - scientific journal, Croatian Interdisciplinary Society Provider Homepage: http://indecs.eu, vol. 17(3-B), pages 684-696.
    7. Li, Feng & Miao, Yajun & Yang, Chenchen, 2015. "How do alumni faculty behave in research collaboration? An analysis of Chang Jiang Scholars in China," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(2), pages 438-450.
    8. Weichao Wang & Yishan Wu & Yuntao Pan, 2014. "An investigation of collaborations between top Chinese universities: a new quantitative approach," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 98(2), pages 1535-1545, February.
    9. Nobuko Miyairi & Han-Wen Chang, 2012. "Bibliometric characteristics of highly cited papers from Taiwan, 2000–2009," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 92(1), pages 197-205, July.
    10. Ángel Acevedo-Duque & Alejandro Vega-Muñoz & Guido Salazar-Sepúlveda, 2020. "Analysis of Hospitality, Leisure, and Tourism Studies in Chile," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-20, September.
    11. Jianhua Hou & Da Ma, 2020. "How the high-impact papers formed? A study using data from social media and citation," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 125(3), pages 2597-2615, December.
    12. Martin Barth & Stefanie Haustein & Barbara Scheidt, 2014. "The life sciences in German–Chinese cooperation: an institutional-level co-publication analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 98(1), pages 99-117, January.
    13. Dragan Ivanović & Yuh-Shan Ho, 2014. "Independent publications from Serbia in the Science Citation Index Expanded: a bibliometric analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 101(1), pages 603-622, October.
    14. Ai-Yuan Liu & Shi-Ying Li & Yu-Qing Guo, 2014. "Characteristics of research on bioinformatics in China assessed with Science Citation Index Expanded," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 99(2), pages 371-391, May.
    15. Dejian Yu & Sun Meng, 2018. "An overview of biomass energy research with bibliometric indicators," Energy & Environment, , vol. 29(4), pages 576-590, June.
    16. Liao, Huchang & Tang, Ming & Li, Zongmin & Lev, Benjamin, 2019. "Bibliometric analysis for highly cited papers in operations research and management science from 2008 to 2017 based on Essential Science Indicators," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 223-236.
    17. Hui-Zhen Fu & Xiao Long & Yuh-Shan Ho, 2014. "China’s research in chemical engineering journals in Science Citation Index Expanded: a bibliometric analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 98(1), pages 119-136, January.
    18. Jiang Li & Yueting Li, 2015. "Patterns and evolution of coauthorship in China’s humanities and social sciences," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 102(3), pages 1997-2010, March.
    19. Jiang, Hanchen & Qiang, Maoshan & Fan, Qixiang & Zhang, Mengqing, 2018. "Scientific research driven by large-scale infrastructure projects: A case study of the Three Gorges Project in China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 61-71.
    20. Hu, Zhigang & Tian, Wencan & Xu, Shenmeng & Zhang, Chunbo & Wang, Xianwen, 2018. "Four pitfalls in normalizing citation indicators: An investigation of ESI’s selection of highly cited papers," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 12(4), pages 1133-1145.
    21. Yuanyuan Ren & Xiaona Wang & Yemei Li & Yu-You Li & Qunhui Wang, 2022. "Lactic Acid Production by Fermentation of Biomass: Recent Achievements and Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-16, November.
    22. Qian Ma & Yandan Li & Yan Zhang, 2020. "Informetric Analysis of Highly Cited Papers in Environmental Sciences Based on Essential Science Indicators," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-14, May.
    23. Chan-Yuan Wong, 2019. "A century of scientific publication: towards a theorization of growth behavior and research-orientation," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 119(1), pages 357-377, April.
    24. Dragan Ivanović & Hui-Zhen Fu & Yuh-Shan Ho, 2015. "Publications from Serbia in the Science Citation Index Expanded: a bibliometric analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 105(1), pages 145-160, October.
    25. Minghua Zhang & Michael L. Grieneisen, 2013. "The impact of misconduct on the published medical and non-medical literature, and the news media," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 96(2), pages 573-587, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Hui-Zhen Fu & Yuh-Shan Ho, 2013. "Comparison of independent research of China’s top universities using bibliometric indicators," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 96(1), pages 259-276, July.
    2. Yuh-Shan Ho, 2013. "The top-cited research works in the Science Citation Index Expanded," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 94(3), pages 1297-1312, March.
    3. Xiaoyun Sui & Yongxia Chen & Zhi Lu & Yifeng Chen, 2015. "A bibliometric analysis of research papers related to the Mekong River," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 105(1), pages 419-434, October.
    4. Fu, Hui-Zhen & Ho, Yuh-Shan, 2013. "Independent research of China in Science Citation Index Expanded during 1980–2011," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 7(1), pages 210-222.
    5. Hui-Zhen Fu & Xiao Long & Yuh-Shan Ho, 2014. "China’s research in chemical engineering journals in Science Citation Index Expanded: a bibliometric analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 98(1), pages 119-136, January.
    6. Maribel Vega-Arce & Gonzalo Salas & Gastón Núñez-Ulloa & Cristián Pinto-Cortez & Ivelisse Torres Fernandez & Yuh-Shan Ho, 2019. "Research performance and trends in child sexual abuse research: a Science Citation Index Expanded-based analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 121(3), pages 1505-1525, December.
    7. Ping Zhou & Yongfeng Zhong & Meigen Yu, 2013. "A bibliometric investigation on China–UK collaboration in food and agriculture," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 97(2), pages 267-285, November.
    8. Juana Paul Moiwo & Fulu Tao, 2013. "The changing dynamics in citation index publication position China in a race with the USA for global leadership," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 95(3), pages 1031-1050, June.
    9. Bar-Ilan, Judit, 2008. "Informetrics at the beginning of the 21st century—A review," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 2(1), pages 1-52.
    10. Jinshui Sun & Jinren Ni & Yuh-Shan Ho, 2011. "Scientometric analysis of coastal eutrophication research during the period of 1993 to 2008," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 13(2), pages 353-366, April.
    11. Xianwen Wang & Shenmeng Xu & Zhi Wang & Lian Peng & Chuanli Wang, 2013. "International scientific collaboration of China: collaborating countries, institutions and individuals," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 95(3), pages 885-894, June.
    12. van Raan, A. F. J. & van Leeuwen, Th. N., 2002. "Assessment of the scientific basis of interdisciplinary, applied research: Application of bibliometric methods in Nutrition and Food Research," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 31(4), pages 611-632, May.
    13. Jiang Tan & Hui-Zhen Fu & Yuh-Shan Ho, 2014. "A bibliometric analysis of research on proteomics in Science Citation Index Expanded," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 98(2), pages 1473-1490, February.
    14. Bruno S. Frey & Katja Rost, 2010. "Do rankings reflect research quality?," Journal of Applied Economics, Universidad del CEMA, vol. 13, pages 1-38, May.
    15. Martin Barth & Stefanie Haustein & Barbara Scheidt, 2014. "The life sciences in German–Chinese cooperation: an institutional-level co-publication analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 98(1), pages 99-117, January.
    16. Chen, Kaihua & Guan, Jiancheng, 2011. "A bibliometric investigation of research performance in emerging nanobiopharmaceuticals," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 5(2), pages 233-247.
    17. S. Hennemann & T. Wang & I. Liefner, 2011. "Measuring regional science networks in China: a comparison of international and domestic bibliographic data sources," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 88(2), pages 535-554, August.
    18. Yuh-Shan Ho, 2014. "Classic articles on social work field in Social Science Citation Index: a bibliometric analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 98(1), pages 137-155, January.
    19. Albarrán, Pedro & Ortuño, Ignacio & Ruiz-Castillo, Javier, 2011. "The measurement of low- and high-impact in citation distributions: Technical results," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 5(1), pages 48-63.
    20. Dag W. Aksnes & Liv Langfeldt & Paul Wouters, 2019. "Citations, Citation Indicators, and Research Quality: An Overview of Basic Concepts and Theories," SAGE Open, , vol. 9(1), pages 21582440198, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:88:y:2011:i:3:d:10.1007_s11192-011-0416-8. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.