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Tracking the featured topics of the International Science of Team Science conference series and their evolution during 2010–2019

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Abstract

In this paper, we study how research topics and trends have evolved in the field of the science of team science (SciTS). Over the past 12 years, the International Science of Team Science conference has been making efforts to understand and enhance the processes and outcomes of collaborative team science. We argue that the sessions and papers in academic conferences are the best way to reflect the latest research trends. Based on the panel sessions and submitted papers in conference programs during 2010–2019, this study tracks the featured topics and how they have evolved in the field. We extracted terms from the titles of the sessions and papers, and visualized the research hotspots, research topics, and how they have evolved for analysis. We found that the research hotspots are constantly changing, and the research topics present evolutionary characteristics, such as continuation, split, and fusion. Additionally, we examined the models and case studies of team science, the characteristics and dynamics of teams, the interdisciplinary research dynamics in team science, team science education and training, and how team science is measured and evaluated. These results summarize the major research trends and opportunities in the SciTS field.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 72004169 and 71974150), and the National Laboratory Center for Library and Information Science in Wuhan University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Studies of Information Resources, School of Information Management, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China

    Ruinan Li, Lin Zhang & Ying Huang

  2. Center for Science, Technology & Education Assessment (CSTEA), Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China

    Ruinan Li, Lin Zhang & Ying Huang

  3. Centre for R&D Monitoring (ECOOM), Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Middelheimlaan 1, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium

    Ruinan Li, Raf Guns & Tim C. E. Engels

  4. Centre for R&D Monitoring (ECOOM) and Department of MSI, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium

    Lin Zhang & Ying Huang

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  1. Ruinan Li
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Li, R., Guns, R., Engels, T.C.E. et al. Tracking the featured topics of the International Science of Team Science conference series and their evolution during 2010–2019. Scientometrics 128, 2447–2469 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-023-04651-3

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