Web of Science data power complementary metrics to inform and
improve research evaluation
LONDON, Sept. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Clarivate Plc
(NYSE:CCC), a global leader in providing trusted information and
insights to accelerate the pace of innovation, today released a
report, "Identifying Research Fronts in the Web of Science: From
metrics to meaning". Latest analysis from the Institute for
Scientific Information™ at Clarivate uses clusters of citations
from recently published papers to show the hot and emerging
scientific topics that are currently attracting exceptional
attention. It also encourages researchers and managers to perform
deeper evaluations of research by making use of the new and
complementary metrics in Research Front data derived from the Web
of Science™ to inform and improve research evaluation and highlight
topics with economic and societal impact.
The identification of hot and emerging scientific and
technological research topics in a Research Front is created by
concentrated clusters in the network of citations that link one
publication with another. The examination of shared terminology in
such clusters may reveal a breakthrough in an existing field or the
realization of a novel, possibly cross disciplinary, area of
research in the shape of an emerging field. Using a machine
learning algorithm for network analysis the report finds the
precise location of Research Fronts in the knowledge network and
uses science mapping and data visualization to highlight their
value by using familiar examples - CRISPR, 2D Materials, and
Machine Learning.
Dr Martin Szomszor, Director
at the Institute for Scientific Information at Clarivate and
report co-author explains: "The insights offered go far beyond the
information derived from more traditional research performance
metrics. The report shows the value in Research Fronts' data in an
accessible way using science mapping and data visualization. This
new ability to run computational assessment on large data sets
together with advances in data visualization paves the way to
modernize research conduct and measurement.
"Scores and ranks have their uses but are limited in revealing
many aspects of research activity and different dimensions of
contributions. Fuller, more informative types of assessment are now
possible."
Joel Haspel SVP Strategy,
Science, Clarivate said: "Innovation is driven primarily by
research. By examining Research Fronts, it is both possible and
desirable to find the foci of innovation and chance. For companies
looking to create revolutionary products, the ability to identify
and access a stream of innovative exploratory research and the
identification of its key players as potential collaborators
provides many opportunities to turn published research into a
compelling competitive advantage with societal impact."
The ability to find these fronts and to track emerging specialty
areas of scientific research, together with the key players at the
epicentre of the front, provides a distinct advantage for those who
fund, monitor, support and advance the conduct of research, often
in the face of finite resources. This includes governments,
commercial organisations, policy makers, science funders,
publishers, institutional research administrators and many
others:
- Researchers. The identification of a Research Front may
help to suggest how a research career might be shaped. An author,
by locating their current activity, can see how close her work is
to a Research Front.
- Institutional research managers. A research manager can
determine the distribution of institutional output across the
knowledge landscape, filtering for recent or longer time windows,
and then assess the relationship of their research clusters to
Research Fronts. They can also make a comparative evaluation with
competitor institutions.
- Research funders. By identifying the distribution of
publications arising from funded projects, a research agency can
see whether its investments are producing work located in or near
Research Fronts, or perhaps redirect funding to projects addressing
emerging fronts and topics gathering exceptional peer attention. It
also provides valuable information in identifying new and
unpredictable scientific and technological discoveries for the
basis of new industries, and with the greatest promise of
innovation.
- Policy makers. The distribution of a national portfolio
in the research landscape will be of interest both for
international comparisons and for the extent to which the country
is engaging with Research Fronts, especially in areas related to
policy priorities.
- Publishers. The landscape location of a journal's
contents can be seen not only in the context of broad disciplines
but in relation to Research Fronts as topics of exceptional current
interest. Where appropriate, editorial policies can be adjusted
accordingly.
Notes to editors:
The report is available online here.
Dr Martin Szomszor, Director at
ISI and report co-author, is available for interview and can supply
insights on the findings.
Follow us on Twitter @WebofScience
#InstituteSciInfo #ResearchFronts #GlobalResearchReport
Media Contact
Lisa Hulme, Global Head of
Communications – Science Group
lisa.hulme@clarivate.com
About Clarivate
Clarivate™ is a global leader in providing trusted information
and insights to accelerate the pace of innovation. We offer
subscription and technology-based solutions coupled with deep
domain expertise that cover the entire lifecycle of innovation –
from foundational research and ideas to protection and
commercialization. Today, we're setting a trail-blazing course to
help customers turn bold ideas into life-changing inventions. Our
portfolio consists of some of the world's most trusted information
brands, including the Web of Science™, Cortellis™, Derwent™,
CompuMark™, MarkMonitor™ and Techstreet™. For more information,
please visit clarivate.com.
About the Institute for Scientific Information
The Institute for Scientific Information (ISI)™ at Clarivate has
pioneered the organization of the world's research information for
more than half a century. Today it remains committed to promoting
integrity in research whilst improving the retrieval,
interpretation and utility of scientific information and maintains
the knowledge corpus upon which the Web of Science™ index and
related information and analytical content and services are built.
It disseminates that knowledge externally through events,
conferences and publications whilst conducting primary research to
sustain, extend and improve the knowledge base. For more
information, please visit
https://clarivate.com/webofsciencegroup/solutions/isi-institute-for-scientific-information/
Forward-Looking Statements
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contain forward-looking statements regarding Clarivate.
Forward-looking statements provide current expectations or
forecasts of future events and may include statements regarding
results, anticipated synergies and other future expectations. These
statements involve risks and uncertainties including factors
outside of the control of Clarivate that may cause actual results
to differ materially. Clarivate undertakes no obligation to update
or revise the statements made herein, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
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