Keywords

social network analysis tools, research communities, professional communities

Abstract

This paper explores the application of social network analysis tools and other quantitative measures for the macro-appraisal of a research community in order to identify individuals from whom to solicit professional papers. While the contributions of individual scholars can be quantified and reviewed in a variety of ways, network analysis provides a useful approach for assessing the contributions of scholars in terms of their connections with other researchers. Using the faculty of a university department as a case study, this study considers how visualizing networks might be used as an additional metric in a professional papers program or subject-based archive to select which faculty members to solicit for donations.

Original Publication Citation

Nimer, C.L. (2020). Macro-appraisal and Professional Communities. Society of American Archivists--Research Forum 2020. https://www2.archivists.org/sites/all/files/Macroappraisal%20and%20Professional%20Communities%20(final).pdf