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Research emphasis and collaboration in Africa

Author

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  • Anastassios Pouris

    (University of Pretoria)

  • Yuh-Shan Ho

    (Asia University)

Abstract

Scientific co-authorship of African researchers has become a fashionable topic in the recent scientometric literature. Researchers are investigating the effects, modes, dynamics and motives of collaboration in a continental research system which is in an embryonic stage and in different stages of development from country to country. In this article we attempt to provide some additional evidence by examining both patterns of collaboration at country and continental levels and the scientific disciplines emphasised. Our findings indicate that the continent’s research emphasises medical and natural resources disciplines to the detriment of disciplines supporting knowledge based economies and societies. Furthermore, we identify that the collaborative patterns in Africa are substantial higher than in the rest of the world. A number of questions related to research collaboration and its effects are raised.

Suggested Citation

  • Anastassios Pouris & Yuh-Shan Ho, 2014. "Research emphasis and collaboration in Africa," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 98(3), pages 2169-2184, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:98:y:2014:i:3:d:10.1007_s11192-013-1156-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-013-1156-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    4. Dosso, Mafini & Cassi, Lorenzo & Mescheba, Wilfriedo, 2023. "Towards regional scientific integration in Africa? Evidence from co-publications," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(1).
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    7. Chipo Chimhundu & Kylie Jager & Tania Douglas, 2015. "Sectoral collaboration networks for cardiovascular medical device development in South Africa," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 105(3), pages 1721-1741, December.
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    9. Matthew Harsh & Ravtosh Bal & Alex Weryha & Justin Whatley & Charles C. Onu & Lisa M. Negro, 2021. "Mapping computer science research in Africa: using academic networking sites for assessing research activity," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(1), pages 305-334, January.
    10. Toluwase Victor Asubiaro & Sodiq Onaolapo, 2023. "A comparative study of the coverage of African journals in Web of Science, Scopus, and CrossRef," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 74(7), pages 745-758, July.
    11. Xiaoling Huang & Lei Wang & Weishu Liu, 2023. "Identification of national research output using Scopus/Web of Science Core Collection: a revisit and further investigation," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 128(4), pages 2337-2347, April.
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    13. Tracy Klarenbeek & Nelius Boshoff, 2018. "Measuring multidisciplinary health research at South African universities: a comparative analysis based on co-authorships and journal subject categories," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 116(3), pages 1461-1485, September.
    14. Omwoyo Bosire Onyancha, 2020. "Towards a Knowledge Specialisation Index for Sub-Saharan Africa: an Informetrics Study," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 11(1), pages 373-389, March.
    15. Hugo Confraria & Manuel Mira Godinho, 2015. "The impact of African science: a bibliometric analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 102(2), pages 1241-1268, February.
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    17. Toluwase Asubiaro, 2019. "How collaboration type, publication place, funding and author’s role affect citations received by publications from Africa: A bibliometric study of LIS research from 1996 to 2015," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 120(3), pages 1261-1287, September.
    18. Jorge Cerdeira & João Mesquita & Elizabeth S. Vieira, 2023. "International research collaboration: is Africa different? A cross-country panel data analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 128(4), pages 2145-2174, April.
    19. Faatiema Salie & Kylie Jager & Carsten Dreher & Tania S. Douglas, 2019. "The scientific base for orthopaedic device development in South Africa: spatial and sectoral evolution of knowledge development," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 119(1), pages 31-54, April.
    20. Radhamany Sooryamoorthy, 2018. "The production of science in Africa: an analysis of publications in the science disciplines, 2000–2015," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 115(1), pages 317-349, April.

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