Crossing the Chasms of Socio- Ecological Research · 2014-06-12 · Crossing the Chasms of...

Crossing the Chasms of Socio-Ecological Research

Structural Holes and Structural Folds in Basic Research Networks

Christian Gulas, Harald Katzmair

FAS.research GmbH

markus

FASresearch

Outline

1. Aim and Scope

2. Approach

3. Resilience #1: Potential and Connectedness

4. Resilience #2: Cross-Scale-Linkages

5. Conclusions

6. Next Steps

© FAS.research 2010

1. Aim and Sope


1. Aim and Scope

• Long term study on collaboration and knowledge networks in the field of Austrian basic research

• Use models and concepts of Systems Ecology to interpret structural characteristics

• Determine the impact of energy input and resource flows on network morphology

• Operationalize “resilience” to identify adaptive science fields, research areas, and scientific disciplines.


2. Approach


Data Overview

Data Source:

Austrian Federal Ministry of Science and Research, Austrian Science Fund Project Data Base

Time Period: 2003 – 2007

Projects: 3.188

Disciplines: 928



Research Project

Scientific Disciplines

Classification of Scientific Disciplines


1-Digits Scientific Field 2-Digits Research Area 4-Digits Scientific Discipline

1 Natural Sciences

11Mathematics, Computer Sciences

1102 Algebra

1103 Analysis

12 Physics, Mechanics, Astronomy1201 General mechanics

1202 Acoustics

… … … …

2 Technical Sciences 21 Mining, Metallurgy2102 Mining engineering

… …

3 Human Medicine 31 Anatomy, Pathology3102 General pathology

… …

4Agriculture & Forestry,Veterinary Medicine

41Agronomy, Plant Breeding, Plant Protection

4102 Irrigated agriculture

… …

5 Social Sciences 51 Political Sciences5101 General political science

… …

6 Humanities 61 Philosophy6101 General philosophy

… …


Funding and Number of Disciplines

3. Resilience #1Potential and Connectedness


Resilience Definitions

• (Social) Life as a process of generative disruption and creative destruction.

• Resilience defined as being able to deliver value under changing conditions.

• Resilience defined as capacity to adapt to and shape change.

• Resilience defined as capacity to operate, respond & react under critical conditions (stress and disturbances).


The Adaptive Cycle


Lance H. Gunderson, C.S. Holling: Panarchy. Understanding Transformations in Human and Natural Systems, pp. 25 – 62.

The Adaptive Cycle


Lance H. Gunderson, C.S. Holling: Panarchy. Understanding Transformations in Human and Natural Systems, pp. 25 – 62.

1. StoragePotential that is inherentin accumulated resources

2. FlowsConnectedness of actors

Two Dimensions of Network Emergence

1.Potential

Available resources – operationalized as funding.

2. Connectedness

Clustering – operationalized as extend of triadicrelationships


1. Potential


Aggregated Funding per Discipline2003 - 2007

2. Connectedness


Connectedness is operationalized as clustering.

Clustering means beeing connected to actors which areconnected themselves

Extend of triadic relationships!


Disciplines - Funding and Clustering

Molecular Biology


Molecular Biology

Disciplines - Funding and Clustering


Disciplines - Funding and Clustering (Detail)


Disciplines with higher clustering than expected

Difference betweenobserved and expectedvalues in percent.


Research Areas - Funding and Clustering


Research Areas with higher clustering than expected


Scientific Fields - Funding and Clustering


Scientific Fields with higher clustering than expected


Mean Percentage of Strongest Link

4. Resilience #2Cross-Scale-Linkages



1 social circle Not overlapping social circles linked through ONE Broker

Overlapping social circles, linked through SEVERAL “Multiple Insiders”

Closure Network Brokerage Network Structural Fold Network

Structural Fold Networks

Brokerage /closure concept, R.S. BURT

Balázs VEDRES, David STARK


Measuring Overlapping Cross-Scale Cliques

Search for cliques (maximal connected subgraphs).

Clique 1 Clique 2


Measuring Overlapping Cross-Scale Cliques

Search for cliques (maximal connected subgraphs).

Only cross-scale links – delete all connections within researchareas (2-Digit Codes).

Biology

Physics

Mathematics, Computer Sciences

Chemistry

Anatomy, Pathology

Arts

Historical Sciences

Philosophy


Disciplines sorted by number of overlapping cliques


Regression: Funding and Overlapping Cliques

Additional funding of€ 500.000.- increases thenumber of cliques by 1.


Disciplines with more Cliques than expected

Difference betweenobserved and expectedvalues in percent.


Cliques Co-Membership Network

Natural Sciences/Human Medicine(Life Sciences) Humanities/Social Sciences

5. Conclusions



• No intercohesion between natural sciences and humanities

• Natural sciences and human medicine dominate the network

• Life sciences particularly connect biological and medical research areas.

• Highly adaptive models and methods (biology, human medicine, and social sciences)

• Historical sciences dominate the field of humanities.• Social sciences are highly differentiated (many codes); at

the same time highly centralized and hierarchical, low clustering

• Social sciences need new links to innovative models and concepts (Ecosystem Research)

6. Next Steps



• „Dynamic“ application of the Adaptive Cycle Heuristic

• Time series analysis of knowledge networks

• New operationalization of „cross-scale linkages“

(beyond time and space borders)

• Strengthen relationship between ecosystem and

social system research

• Deepen our understanding of systems of people and

nature

Thank you for your attention!

[email protected]

Crossing the Chasms of Socio- Ecological Research · 2014-06-12 · Crossing the Chasms of...

Documents

Transcript of Crossing the Chasms of Socio- Ecological Research · 2014-06-12 · Crossing the Chasms of...