Can epidemic models describe the diffusion of topics across disciplines?
Kiss, I. Z., Broom, M., Craze, P. G. & Rafols, I. (2010). Can epidemic models describe the diffusion of topics across disciplines?. Journal of Informetrics, 4(1), pp. 74-82. doi: 10.1016/j.joi.2009.08.002
Abstract
This paper introduces a new approach to describe the spread of research topics across disciplines using epidemic models. The approach is based on applying individual-based models from mathematical epidemiology to the diffusion of a research topic over a contact network that represents knowledge flows over the map of science—as obtained from citations between ISI Subject Categories. Using research publications on the protein class kinesin as a case study, we report a better fit between model and empirical data when using the citation-based contact network. Incubation periods on the order of 4–15.5 years support the view that, whilst research topics may grow very quickly, they face difficulties to overcome disciplinary boundaries.
| Publication Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Publisher Keywords: | Knowledge diffusion; Epidemic model; Science map |
| Subjects: | Z Bibliography. Library Science. Information Resources > Z665 Library Science. Information Science |
| Departments: | School of Science & Technology > Mathematics |
| SWORD Depositor: |
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