Rake, Bastian and D’Este, Pablo and McKelvey, Maureen (2021) Exploring network dynamics in science: the formation of ties to knowledge translators in clinical research. Journal of Evolutionary Economics, 31 (5). pp. 1433-1464. ISSN 0936-9937

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Abstract

From an evolutionary economics perspective, knowledge networks are self-organizing systems. Therefore, studying changes of these systems requires an understanding of how such changes are influenced by both the behaviors and characteristics of key individual actors and the network structure. We apply this perspective to a network of investigators (i.e. lead scientists) and a sample of 9543 Phase 2 cancer clinical trials during the period 2002–2012, in order to examine the structure and explore the dynamics of the clinical trial network. Using temporal exponential random graph models, we examine whether preferential attachment, multi-connectivity, or homophily drive the formation of new collaborative relations to knowledge translators - i.e. investigators with basic and clinical research knowledge. Our results suggest that despite some increased connectivity over time the network remains fragmented due to the considerably growing number of investigators in the network. This fragmentation limits opportunities for knowledge transfer to advance clinical trials. We find that homophily in research fields and investigators’ country of affiliation and heterophily in terms of publication output promote the formation of ties to knowledge translators. We find also that multi-connectivity increases the probability of tie formation with knowledge translators while preferential attachment reduces this probability.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Network dynamics; Preferential attachment; Homophily; Multi-connectivity; Clinical trials; Knowledge translators;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Business
Item ID:	18344
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00191-020-00716-1
Depositing User:	Bastian Rake
Date Deposited:	04 Apr 2024 08:47
Journal or Publication Title:	Journal of Evolutionary Economics
Publisher:	Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	Publisher
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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