Research production and research collaboration in Zimbabwe: A bibliometric study in context
Year: 2021
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Several bibliometric studies on research production and research collaboration in Africa have been carried out.Most of the studies use mainstream bibliographic databases (Scopus and Web of Science [WoS]) as their main sources for bibliometric analysis.Such studies rarely apply context explicitly in bibliometric analysis.In addition, the studies almost exclusively use data sets at article level, with articles as the unit of analysis.The studies also typically regard international research collaboration as the most important measure of international research participation in the African research landscape, with little attention to additional measures adapted to the African context.Finally, existing bibliometric studies on Africa rarely use data from other sources (e.g.surveys or interviews) to reflect on research collaboration.The main goal of this dissertation is to address these limitations within a study on research production and collaboration in Zimbabwe.To achieve the study goal, a quantitative case study of research production and research collaboration in Zimbabwe was conducted.Two quantitative methods were used to illuminate the specific case: a bibliometric analysis and a web-based survey.Data for the bibliometric analysis were obtained from three bibliographic databases: Scopus, WoS and the National Research Database of Zimbabwe (NRDZ).The NRDZ was added to reflect on the value of using a national research database as an additional bibliometric data source.Although bibliometrics is useful for profiling research collaboration in Zimbabwe, it cannot capture the full range of social dynamics experienced by researchers.Therefore, a web-based survey was conducted to explore other aspects and experiences of research collaboration in order to provide more depth and context to the bibliometric analysis.A database of published researchers (obtained from the bibliometric database) and potentially research-active researchers (obtained from institutional websites) was compiled and used to create a distribution list for the web-based survey.Patterns of research production and research collaboration of Zimbabwean organisations in the different national sectors and fields, and within four socio-political periods (the context), were profiled.The study also converted an article database into a database of article authors.This enabled the identification of the Zimbabwean research workforce.Not only have the research workforce been identified, but also the collaboration patterns of such researchers (article authors).The author level analysis made possible a comparison between the percentages of articles with research collaboration and the percentages of article authors involved in research collaboration.A comparison of research workers in Zimbabwe (as Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.zaOPSOMMING Verskeie bibliometriese studies oor navorsingsproduksie en navorsingsamewerking in Afrika is reeds uitgevoer.Die meeste van die studies gebruik hoofstroom bibliografiese databasisse (Scopus en 'Web of Science' [WoS]) as die belangrikste bron vir bibliometriese analise.Sodanige studies pas ook selde konteks eksplisiet toe in die bibliometriese analise.Daarby maak die studies feitlik uitsluitlik gebruik van datastelle op artikelvlak, met artikels as die eenheid van analise.Die studies beskou ook internasionale navorsingsamewerking as die belangrikste maatstaf vir internasionale navorsingsdeelname in die Afrikanavorsingslandskap, met min aandag aan addisionele maatstawwe wat aangepas is vir die Afrika-konteks.Laastens gebruik bestaande bibliometriese studies oor Afrika selde data van ander bronne (bv.opnames of onderhoude) om oor navorsingsamewerking te besin.Die hoofdoel van hierdie proefskrif is om hierdie beperkings van bibliometriese studies binne die konteks van 'n studie oor navorsingsproduksie en -samewerking in Zimbabwe aan te spreek.'n Kwantitatiewe gevallestudie van navorsingsproduksie en navorsingsamewerking in Zimbabwe is uitgevoer ten einde die studiedoel te bereik.Twee kwantitatiewe metodes is gebruik om die spesifieke geval te belig: 'n bibliometriese analise en 'n webopname.Data vir die bibliometriese analise is verkry uit drie bibliografiese databasisse: Scopus, WoS en die Nasionale Navorsingsdatabasis van Zimbabwe (NNZ).Die NNZ is bygevoeg om te besin oor die waarde van die gebruik van 'n nasionale navorsingsdatabasis as 'n addisionele bibliometriese databron.Alhoewel die bibliometriese metode nuttig is vir die profilering van navorsingsamewerking in Zimbabwe, kan dit nie die volle omvang van sosiale dinamika wat navorsers ervaar, vaslê nie.Daarom is 'n webopname gedoen om ander aspekte en ervarings van navorsingsamewerking te verken ten einde meer diepte en konteks aan die bibliometriese analise te verleen.'n Databasis van gepubliseerde navorsers (verkry uit die bibliometriese databasis) en potensieel navorsingsaktiewe wetenskaplikes (verkry vanaf institusionele webwerwe) is saamgestel en gebruik om 'n verspreidingslys vir die webopname te skep.Die patrone van navorsingsuitsette en die patrone van navorsingsamewerking van Zimbabwiese organisasies in die verskillende nasionale sektore en velde, en ook binne vier sosio-politieke tydperke (konteks), is geprofileer.Die studie het ook 'n artikeldatabasis omgeskakel in 'n databasis van artikelouteurs.Dit het die identifikasie van navorsingswerkers in Zimbabwe moontlik gemaak.Nie net is die navorsingswerkers geïdentifiseer nie, maar ook die samewerkingspatrone van navorsers.Die outeursvlakanalise het 'n vergelyking moontlik gemaak tussen die persentasie van artikels met navorsingsamewerking en die persentasies Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za their support and assistance for the duration of this study: • My supervisor, Prof Nelius Boshoff for his continuous
Author: Similo Ngwenya
Language: English
Subfield: Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty
Field: Decision Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: National Research Foundation
OpenAlex ID: W3170397516