This usage map shows the chain of connections that web users create between scientific disciplines as they move across the web. From PLoS One.
Most scientific journals are now accessed online. For generations the links between related research have been based on the article bibliographies, where authors cite relevant or related articles that informed the printed paper at hand.
Our understanding of the connection between research fields is changing as we begin to assess behavior of web users who create their own chains of links while clicking from page to page across the web.
A study of this "clickstream" behavior published in the Public Library of Science reveals a different kind of linkage between scientific disciplines. According to the paper and visualized in the map above, the humanities and social sciences play a more influential role in science than citations in bibliographies would reveal. At least from the web user viewpoint.
According to a report in Nature News, there is some disagreement on the significance of the findings.
One one hand, citations and bibliographies reflect the influences and intentions of the authors. On the other, clickstream data reflect the influences and intentions of users. Of course there is crossover as some users are authors.
So in a world where relevance by citation meets relevance by clickstream, perhaps further insight comes at the nexus of author and user influence and intention.
PLoS One: Bollen, et al: Clickstream Data Yields High Resolution Maps of Science.
Nature News: Web Usage Data Outline Map of Knowledge
New York Times: Map of Knowledge
Its looks interesting but difficult to understand...:)
Posted by: Term papers | November 04, 2009 at 05:35 AM