Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A comparative study of the difference in research performance in biomedical fields among selected Western and Asian countries

  • Published:
Scientometrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this study, a series of relative indicators are used to compare the difference in research performance in biomedical fields between ten selected Western and Asian countries. Based on Thomson’s Essential Science Indicators (ESI) 1996–2006, the output of papers and their citations in ten biomedical fields are compared at multiple levels using relative indicators. Chart diagrams and hierarchical clustering are applied to represent the data. The results confirm that there are many differences in intra- and interdisciplinary scientific activities between the West and the East. In most biomedical fields Asian countries perform below world average.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adams, J. (1998), Benchmarking international research. Nature, 396: 615–618.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bornmann, L., Mutz, R., Daniel, H. D. (2007), The b index as a measure of scientific excellence — a promising complement to the h index. Cybermetrics, 11(1), paper 6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun, T., Glänzel, W. (1990), United Germany: the new scientific superpower? Scientometrics, 19: 513–521.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cyranoski, D. (2001), Building a biopolis. Nature, 412: 370–371.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Bruin, R., Kint, A., Luwel, M., Moed, H. F. (1993), A study of research evaluation and planning: the University of Ghent. Research Evaluation, 3: 25–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Egghe, L., Rousseau, R. (2002), A general framework for relative impact indicators. The Canadian Journal of Information and Library Science/La Revue canadienne des sciences de l’information et de bibliothéconomie, 27(1): 29–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eisenhauer, J. G. (2003), Regression through the origin. Teaching Statistics, 25(3): 76–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frame, J. D. (1977), Mainstream reseach in Latin America and the Caribbean. Interciencia, 2: 143–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glänzel, W. (2001), National characteristics in international scientific co-authorship relations. Scientometrics, 51(1): 69–115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glänzel, W., Debackere, K., Meyer, M. (2008), ’Triad’ or ‘tetrad’ ? On global changes in a dynamic world. Scientometrics, 74: 71–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gómez, I., Fernández, M. T., Zulueta, M. A., Cami, J. (1995), Analysis of biomedical research in Spain. Research Policy, 24: 459–471.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guan, J. C., Ma, N. (2004), A comparative study of research performance in computer science. Scientometrics, 61: 339–359.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horta, H., Veloso, F. M. (2007), Opening the box: comparing EU and US scientific output by scientific field. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 74: 1334–1356.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu, XJ. (2007), Relative superiority coefficient of papers: a new dimension for institutional research performance in different fields. Scientometrics, 72: 388–403.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jin, BH., Rousseau, R. (2005), China’s quantitative expansion phase: exponential growth but low impact. In: P. Ingwersen, B. Larsen (Eds) Proceedings of ISSI 2005. Stockholm: Karolinska University Press, pp. 362–370

    Google Scholar 

  • Leydesdorff, L., Zhou, P. (2005), Are the contributions of China and Korea upsetting the world system of science? Scientometrics, 63: 617–630.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lim, K. H. (2004), The relationship between research and innovation in the semiconductor and pharmaceutical industries (1981–1997). Research Policy, 33: 287–321.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, L., Zhang, J. J. (2007), Characterising nanotechnology research in China. Science Technology & Society, 12: 201–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Must, Ü. (2006), “New” countries in Europe — Research, development and innovation strategies vs bibliometric data. Scientometrics, 66(2): 241–248.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Raan, A. F. J. (2004), Measuring science. In: H. F. Moed, W. Glänzel, U. Schmoch (Eds) Handbook of Quantitative Science and Technology Research. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, pp. 19–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Rousseau, R. (2008), Triad or Tetrad: another representation. ISSI Newsletter, 4(1): 5–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schubert, A., Braun, T. (1986), Relative indicators and relational charts for comparative assessment of publication output and citation impact. Scientometrics, 9: 281–291.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schubert, A., Glänzel, W., Braun, T. (1983), Relative citation rate: a new indicator for measuring the impact of publications. In: D. Tomov, L. Dimitrova (Eds), Proceedings of the 1 st national Conference with International participation on Scientometrics and Linguistics of the Scientific Text, Varna (Bulgaria), pp. 80–81.

  • Schubert, A., Glänzel, W., Braun, T. (1989), World flash on basic research. Scientometric datafiles. A comprehensive set of indicators on 2649 journals and 96 countries in all major fields and subfields 1981–1985. Scientometrics, 16: 3–478.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shelton, R. D., Foland, P., Gorelskyy, R. (2007), Do new SCI journals have a different national bias? In: D. Torres-Salinas, H. F. Moed (Eds) Proceedings of ISSI 2007, pp. 708–717.

  • Shelton, R. D., Holdridge, G. M. (2004), The US-EU race for leadership of science and technology: qualitative and quantitative indicators. Scientometrics, 60: 353–363.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thorsteinsdóttir, H., Daar, A. S., Singer, P. A., Archambault, E., Arunachalam, S. (2006), Health biotechnology publishing takes-off in developing countries. International Journal of Biotechnology 8(1/2): 23–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vinkler, P. (1998), General performance indexes calculated for research institutes of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences based on scientometric indicators. Scientometrics 41: 185–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Von Bubnoff, A. (2005), Asia squeezes Europe’s lead in science. Nature 436(7049): 314.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang T. Y., Chien, S. C., Kao, C. (2007), The role of technology development in national competitiveness — Evidence from Southeast Asian countries. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 74: 1357–1373.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wells, W. A. (2007), The returning tide. How China, the world’s most populous country, is building a competitive research base. Journal of Cell Biology, 178: 376–401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, R. (2004), Making an impact. Nature, 428: 206–207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, LY., Jin, BH. (2006), A co-occurrence study of international universities and institutes leading to a new instrument for detecting partners for research collaboration. ISSI Newsletter, 2(3): 7–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, P., Leydesdorff, L. (2006), The emergence of China as a leading nation in science. Research Policy, 35(1): 83–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zitt, M., Bassecoulard, E. (2008), Challenges for scientometric indicators: data demining, knowledge-flow measurement and diversity issues. Ethics in Science and Environmental Politics, 8(5–7): 49–60. DOI: 10.3354/esep00092

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Information Center, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China

    Xiaojun Hu

  2. KHBO (Association K.U.Leuven), Industrial Sciences and Technology, Zeedijk 101, B-8400, Oostende, Belgium

    Ronald Rousseau

  3. Steunpunt O&O Indicatoren and Dept. MSI, K. U. Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Ronald Rousseau

Authors
  1. Xiaojun Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ronald Rousseau
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ronald Rousseau.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hu, X., Rousseau, R. A comparative study of the difference in research performance in biomedical fields among selected Western and Asian countries. Scientometrics 81, 475–491 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-008-2202-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-008-2202-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation