A bibliometric analysis of South Africa’s scientific outputs – some trends and implications
Keywords:
bibliometrics, publication volume, subject area, author address, innovation policy
Abstract
The paper examines the change in volume of South African publications as indexed to the Web of Science over the periods 1990–1994 and 2004–2008. It was noted that publication volumes have increased sharply even while the stock of researchers has remained static. A number of factors may account for the rise including the increase in the Department of Education publication subsidy, the increase in the number of South African journals indexed to the Web of Science and a shift in focus to fields with higher publication propensity. For example, it was noted that a new growth area has emerged in the field of infectious diseases. The publication count by author institution showed that collaboration with foreign authors has increased considerably across the two periods and it is suggested that it is this factor that best accounts for the rise in volume. The concentration by subject area permitted some judgement to be made regarding the prospects for the five grand challenges of the Ten Year Innovation Plan. Lastly, it was noted that if it is collaboration that is driving the volume increase, the system is vulnerable to offshore changes.References
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7. Albuquerque E. Immature systems of innovation: Introductory notes about a comparison between South Africa, India, Mexico and Brazil based on science and technology statistics. Discussion paper No. 221. Belo Hirozonte: CEDEPLAR/FACE/IFMG.ASGI-SA; 2003.
8. Pouris A. The international performance of South African academic institutions; a citation assessment. Higher Education. 2006;54(4):501–509. doi:10.1007/s10734-006-9034-4
9. Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf). Consensus report on revitalising clinical research in South Africa. Pretoria: ASSAf, 2009; p. 125.
10. Resources for R&D in the Republic of South Africa 1991/92. Results of Survey Programme no 17. Pretoria: Department of National Education; 1993.
11. Human Sciences Research Council. South African National Survey of Research and Experimental Development 2007/08 [homepage on the Internet]. No date [cited 2010 Dec 22]. Available from: http://www.hsrc.ac.za/index.php?module=rnddoc&func=login_register&file_id=104
12. Mouton J, Weingart P. R&D evaluation. Workshop presented at: INORMS 2010 Conference; 2010 April 12–16; Cape Town, South Africa.
13. Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf). Consensus report on revitalising clinical research in South Africa. Pretoria: ASSAf, 2009; p. 147.
14. Kahn MJ. Report on knowledge and innovation for the World Bank-Department of Education Multi-sector Analysis project. Pretoria: World Bank; 2009.
15. Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf). Consensus report on revitalising clinical research in South Africa. Pretoria: ASSAf, 2009; p. 126.
16. Science and engineering indicators. Washington: National Science Board; 2010.
17. Policy and development support communiqué. Vol. 1 No. 2, April 2009. Policy and procedures for the measurement of research output of public higher education institutions. Pretoria: Department of Education; 2010.
18. Innovation plan: Toward the knowledge economy. Pretoria: Department of Science and Technology, 2008; p. 8.
19. King DA. The scientific impact of nations: What different countries get for their research spending. Nature. 2004;430:311–316. doi:10.1038/430311a, PMid:15254529
20. Plant variety protection statistics for the period 2003–2007. Document prepared by the Office of the Union. Geneva: Union of Plant Varieties; 2008.
21. National survey of research and experimental development, 2007/08. Cape Town: Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators; 2009.
22. South Africa’s research chairs initiative and South African research chairs and rated researchers incentive funding [homepage on the Internet]. No date [cited 2010 July 29]. Available from: www.nrf.ac.za/projects.php?pid=61.
Published
2011-01-27
Section
Research Articles