Figg WD, Dunn L, Liewehr DJ, Steinberg SM, Thurman PW, Barrett JC, Birkinshaw J "Scientific collaboration results in higher citation rates of published articles " PHARMACOTHERAPY 26 (6): 759-767 JUN 2006

[Eugene Garfield]

William D. Figg : wdfigg at helix.nih.gov


Title: Scientific collaboration results in higher citation rates of 
published articles 


Author(s): Figg WD, Dunn L, Liewehr DJ, Steinberg SM, Thurman PW, Barrett 
JC, Birkinshaw J 

Source: PHARMACOTHERAPY 26 (6): 759-767 JUN 2006 

Document Type: Article 
Language: English 
Cited References: 19      Times Cited: 0        
  
Abstract: 
Study Objective. The primary objective was to analyze the relationship 
between the citation rate of an article and the extent of collaboration. 
The secondary objective was to analyze the relationship between the number 
of authors/article and the number of institutions/article for the period 
of study 

Methods. We counted the number of original research articles published in 
six leading journals-Cell, Science, Nature, New England Journal of 
Medicine, The Lancet, and Journal of the American Medical Association-for 
the years 1975, 1985, and 1995. For each article, we determined the number 
of authors and the number of separate institutions. We also determined the 
number of times each article that was published in 1995 was cited in 
future scientific articles from the Science Citation Index database.
Results. Science, Cell, Nature, New England Journal of Medicine, The 
Lancet, and Journal of the American Medical Association had 2014, 868, 
3856, 643, 785, and 465 total articles published/3-year study period, 
respectively. There was a median of 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, and 3 
institutions/article, respectively All of the final models had a 
significant linear author component for which all of the parameter 
estimates were positive, yet variable. Thus, the number of times an 
article was cited correlated significantly with the number of authors and 
the number of institutions.

Conclusion. A correlation exists between the number of authors and the 
number of times an article is cited in other articles. investigators who 
are open to collaborations and those who seem to adequately manage those 
collaborations produce a superior product that results in a higher impact.


Addresses: Figg WD (reprint author), NCI, Mol Pharmacol Sect, Canc 
Therapeut Branch, Biostat Data Management Sect, Bldg 10,Room 5A10,9000 
Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
NCI, Mol Pharmacol Sect, Canc Therapeut Branch, Biostat Data Management 
Sect, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
NCI, Canc Res Ctr, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
Columbia Univ, Joseph L Mailman Sch Publ Hlth, New York, NY USA
Columbia Univ, Sch Int & Publ Affairs, New York, NY USA
London Business Sch, London, NW1 4SA England 

Publisher: PHARMACOTHERAPY PUBLICATIONS INC, NEW ENGLAND MEDICAL CENTER, 
806, 750 WASHINGTON ST, BOSTON, MA 02111 USA 

Subject Category: PHARMACOLOGY & PHARMACY 
IDS Number: 049JA 
ISSN: 0277-0008 

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