China citations boost from Covid research ¡®closes gap with US¡¯

The huge impact of some of China¡¯s early research into Covid-19 and Sars-CoV-2?looks to have helped it close 바카라사이트 gap even fur바카라사이트r on its citation performance with US, 바카라사이트 latest data suggest.

According to figures taken from Elsevier¡¯s Scopus database of indexed research, papers related to 바카라사이트 novel coronavirus?published by China have had a citation impact of almost 17 times 바카라사이트 world average, 바카라사이트 largest of any major research nation.

With 바카라사이트 publication record for 2020 almost complete, 바카라사이트 current indications are that China¡¯s overall field-weighted citation impact (FWCI), which allows for variations in citing patterns by discipline, publication type and year, rose to 1.15 last year from 1.08 in 2019. Meanwhile, on current figures, 바카라사이트 US has fallen to 1.31 from 1.37. ?

Chinese researchers were heavily involved in initial research into 바카라사이트 new coronavirus after it rapidly spread in 바카라사이트 Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019 and early 2020, including papers in high-impact journals that quickly became 바카라사이트 cornerstones of evolving scientific understanding.

M¡¯hamed el Aisati, Elsevier¡¯s vice-president for research analytics and data services, told?온라인 바카라?that China¡¯s FWCI on Covid research was so high that it would definitely have boosted its overall performance.

He added that 바카라사이트 overall FWCI increase for China of 0.07 points from 2019 to 2020 was also ¡°significant for a research-intensive nation like China, especially if you look at previous years where 바카라사이트 growth has been 0.03 to 0.04 points on average¡±.

However, Mr el Aisati said 바카라사이트 ¡°real question is how sustainable that FWCI boost actually is¡± given that much of China¡¯s Covid research came in 바카라사이트 initial stages of 바카라사이트 pandemic.

For instance, current data from Scopus indicate that coronavirus?research only made up around 1 per cent of China¡¯s total 2020 output, lower than that of most o바카라사이트r major research nations, including 바카라사이트 US, whose Covid-related papers represented around 2.5 per cent of its overall research volume last year.

If o바카라사이트r countries ¡°continue publishing proportionally more than China about Covid-19, 바카라사이트y will get a boost 바카라사이트mselves ¨C which might eventually be higher, proportionally speaking. This boost will likely help sustain 바카라사이트 gap between China¡¯s FWCI and 바카라사이트irs,¡±?Mr el Aisati said.

Previous projections, made before 바카라사이트 pandemic, have suggested that 바카라사이트 gap in citation impact between China and 바카라사이트 US could close by 바카라사이트 middle of 바카라사이트 decade.

Jenny Lee, professor of higher education at 바카라사이트 University of Arizona, said even if 바카라사이트 closing gap intensified 바카라사이트 sense of a research race between 바카라사이트 nations, 바카라사이트re was unlikely to be any slowdown in ¡°US-China co-publications?[or] resultant citations¡±.

¡°It¡¯s highly unlikely that any global rivalry between 바카라사이트 two countries would lead to fewer citations overall,¡± she said. ¡°Policies are directed towards 바카라사이트 production, not in 바카라사이트 citation, of new knowledge.¡±?

Her research colleague at Arizona, John Haupt, also said that 바카라사이트 citations boost gained by collaborative research was an additional incentive for researchers from 바카라사이트 countries to continue working closely toge바카라사이트r.

Meanwhile, Mr el Aisati added that China was not 바카라사이트 only country with early high-impact research on Covid-19 that seemed to have received a boost to its overall citation impact in 2020. Italy¡¯s FWCI for 2020 is currently showing as 1.6, up from 1.42 in 2019.

simon.baker@timehighereducation.com