Early collaboration network archetypes are associated with productivity and publishing longevity in cognitive science
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Background Academic success is typically modelled as an individual-level outcome. Systems approaches, however, suggest that outcomes emerge from interactions between individuals and structured environments, including collaboration networks. We examined whether early-career collaboration networks shaped trajectories of scientific success. Gap: It remains unclear whether authors differ systematically in early collaboration structures and whether such differences relate to long-term productivity and publishing longevity. Methods We analysed ~ 1.5 million publications from OpenAlex in cognitive psychology (post-2000). We randomly sampled 5,000 authors and constructed their early-career collaboration networks. For each author, we quantified connectivity, brokerage, local clustering, ties to highly connected co-authors, and collaboration stability. Unsupervised clustering identified network archetypes, and these were visualized with principal components analysis. Clusters were then compared on productivity and publishing longevity. Results Networks of 4,944 authors were modelled, revealing five distinct early-window archetypes with characteristic network signatures independent of publication volume. Archetypes differed in long-term productivity and publishing longevity. Interpretation: Early collaboration structures are associated with divergent science publishing trajectories. Authors occupying brokerage positions spanning disconnected groups showed greater productivity and longer publishing tenure, supporting systems-level accounts of scientific success embedded in social network structure.
Source: Scientific Reports
Author: Joyce M. G. Vromen
Institution: Charles Sturt University
Language: English
Subfield: Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty
Field: Decision Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,690
OpenAlex ID: W7204238576