Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Research collaboration in Ghana: patterns, motives and roles

  • Published:
Scientometrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study had three objectives: to examine patterns of research collaboration in Ghana, to study reasons why Ghanaian-affiliated researchers collaborate with others (both inside and outside Ghana), and to determine the roles of Ghanaian-affiliated researchers in collaborations. The methodology comprised a bibliometric analysis of articles in the Web of Science for the years 1990 to 2013, and an online survey of 190 Ghanaian-affiliated corresponding authors of articles. Collaboration increased from 73% in 1990–1997 to 93% in 2006–2013, and international collaboration from 49 to 73% over the same time. The public university and government sectors, together with the three most research-productive organisations in each sector, were found to be highly dependent on collaboration for research production. The online survey revealed that collaboration with researchers in three regions (within Ghana, within the rest of Africa, and outside Africa) was to a large extent initiated by existing personal/working relationships. Access to expertise and enhanced productivity were the main reasons why Ghanaian-affiliated researchers collaborated with others in these three regions. Collaborators within Ghana were largely involved in the collection of data or fieldwork. Collaborators from outside Africa played instrumental roles in providing resources and securing research funds.

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

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abbassi, A., Liaquat, H., & Leydesdorff, L. (2012). Between centrality as a driver of preferential attachment in the evolution of research collaboration networks. Journal of Informetrics, 6(3), 403–412.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adams, J., King, C., & Hook, D. (2010). Global research report: Africa. Leeds: Thomson Reuters.

    Google Scholar 

  • AU–NEPAD (African Union–New Partnership for Africa’s Development). (2010). African innovation outlook 2010. Pretoria: AU–NEPAD.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boshoff, N. (2009). Neo-colonialism and research collaboration in Central Africa. Scientometrics, 81(2), 413–434.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boshoff, N. (2010). South-South research collaboration of countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Scientometrics, 84(2), 481–503.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bozeman, B., Fay, D., & Slade, C. P. (2013). Research collaboration in universities and academic entrepreneurship: The-state-of-the-art. Journal of Technology Transfer, 38, 1–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Confraria, H., & Godinho, M. M. (2015). The impact of African science: A bibliometric analysis. Scientometrics, 102, 1241–1268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Essegby, G. O. (2013). Funding of STI: The Ghana experience. Presentation given at the Consultative Workshop on Science Granting Councils in Sub-Saharan Africa, 26–27 Nov 2013, Somerset West.

  • Gaillard, J. F. (1994). North-South research partnerships: Is collaboration possible between unequal partners? Knowledge and Policy, 7(2), 31–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaillard, J., Krishna, V. V., & Waast, R. (1997). Scientific communities in the developing world. New Delhi: Sage India.

    Google Scholar 

  • Katz, J., & Martin, B. (1997). What is research collaboration? Research Policy, 26(1), 1–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mêgnigbêto, E. (2013a). International collaboration in scientific publishing: The case of West Africa (2001–2010). Scientometrics, 96(3), 761–783.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mêgnigbêto, E. (2013b). Scientific publishing in West Africa: Comparing Benin with Ghana and Senegal. Scientometrics, 95(3), 1113–1139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MEST. (2010). National science, technology and innovation policy. Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology of the Republic of Ghana. http://mesti.gov.gh/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/National-STI-Policy.pdf. Accessed 19 Apr 2016.

  • Mouton, J. (2007). Study on national research systems: A meta-review. Regional report on sub-Saharan Africa. UNESCO Forum on Higher Education, Research and Knowledge. http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0015/001577/157797e.pdf. Accessed 19 Apr 2016.

  • Mouton, J. (2008). Africa’s science decline. Harvard International Review. http://hir.harvard.edu/global-educationafricas-science-decline/. Accessed 19 Apr 2016.

  • Moyi Okwaru, F., & Geissler, P. W. (2015). In/dependent collaborations: Perceptions and experiences of African scientists in transnational HIV research. Medical Anthropology Quarterly, 29(4), 492–511.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Onyancha, O. B., & Maluleka, J. R. (2011). Knowledge production through collaborative research in sub-Saharan Africa: How much do countries contribute to each other’s knowledge output and citation impact? Scientometrics, 87(2), 315–336.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ordóñez-Matamoros, G., Cozzens, S. E., & García-Luque, M. (2011). North-South and South-South research collaboration: What differences does it make for developing countries?—The case of Colombia. Paper presented at the 2011 Atlanta Conference on Science and Innovation Policy, 15–17 Sept 2011, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. https://smartech.gatech.edu/bitstream/handle/1853/42488/457-1548-2-PB.pdf. Accessed 2 Sept 2016.

  • Pius, T. (2014). Sources of funding for higher education in Ghana. Master thesis produced by the Department of Education, University of Oslo, Norway. https://www.duo.uio.no/bitstream/handle/10852/41689/Twene-Pius-Thesis.pdf?sequence=1. Accessed 2 Sept 2016.

  • Ponds, R. (2009). The limits to internationalization of scientific research collaboration. Journal of Technology Transfer, 34, 76–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pouris, A., & Pouris, A. (2009). The state of science and technology in Africa (2000–2004): A scientometric assessment. Scientometrics, 79(2), 297–309.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schubert, T., & Sooryamoorthy, R. (2010). Can the centre-periphery model explain patterns of international scientific collaboration among threshold and industrialized countries? The case of South Africa and Germany. Scientometrics, 83(1), 181–203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sooryamoorthy, R. (2010). Science and scientific collaboration in South Africa: Apartheid and after. Scientometrics, 84(2), 373–390.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tijssen, R. J. W. (2007). Africa’s contribution to the worldwide research literature: New analytical perspectives, trends, and performance indicators. Scientometrics, 71(2), 303–327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Toivanen, H., & Ponomariov, B. (2011). African regional innovations systems: Bibliometric analysis of research collaboration patterns 2005–2009. Scientometrics, 88(2), 471–493.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • UIS (2005). What do bibliometric indicators tell us about world scientific output? UIS Bulletin on Science and Technology Statistics, (2). http://www.csiic.ca/PDF/UIS_bulletin_sept2005_EN.pdf. Accessed 19 Apr 2016.

  • UNCTAD (2011). Science, technology and innovation policy review—Ghana. Report produced by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. http://unctad.org/en/Docs/dtlstict20098_en.pdf. Accessed 19 Apr 2016.

  • UWN (2014). Government prioritises research but lacks resources. University World News, Issue 303, 17 Jan 2014. http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=2014011712512921. Accessed 19 Apr 2016.

  • Wagner, C., & Leydesdorff, L. (2005). Mapping the network of global science: Comparing international co-authorships from 1990 to 2000. International Journal of Technology and Globalisation, 1(2), 185–208.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research was funded with support from the Development Research Uptake in Sub-Saharan Africa (DRUSSA) programme. The DRUSSA programme is funded by the Department for International Development (DfID), which is a United Kingdom government department responsible for administering overseas aid. The authors also thank the two anonymous reviewers for their helpful and constructive comments, which greatly contributed to improving the final version of the article.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST) and DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Scientometrics and Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (SciSTIP), Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa

    Frederick Owusu-Nimo & Nelius Boshoff

Authors
  1. Frederick Owusu-Nimo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nelius Boshoff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nelius Boshoff.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Owusu-Nimo, F., Boshoff, N. Research collaboration in Ghana: patterns, motives and roles. Scientometrics 110, 1099–1121 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-016-2221-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-016-2221-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation