Characteristics of Knowledge Cooperation Network in a Design-driven Domain: A Social Network Analysis

Abstract

The research is financed by:

• Social Science Funding Project of Jilin Province (No. 2017B141),
• China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No. 2016M590251),
• China Postdoctoral Science Special Fund (No.2018T110242).

Abstract

The field of scientific research is currently moving from an individual and single-discipline to a more cooperative discipline that combines various researchers and their capabilities. This study uses network analysis to explore the current situation and development trend characteristics of knowledge cooperation in the design field of Decoration. We construct large-scale networks using empirical data of sampled coauthored papers from 2008 to 2016. The main aims of this paper are: (a) to disclose different patterns of networking relationships among coauthored research works in the journal of Decoration and (b), to understand the mutual interaction of knowledge cooperation across regions and units in China’s field of design. The study found that the depth of knowledge cooperation in the field of design in China needed to be improved, the knowledge cooperation network also had a small-world effect, and the network community gradually emerged. In addition, the Chinese design field had made major advances in international cooperation, cross-regional cooperation, and diversification in the forms of research works. These findings could be used to recognize interdisciplinary and intra-disciplinary networks where research collaboration is supported and encouraged. However, there were still problems such as imbalanced levels of knowledge output among the groups.

Keywords: design field; knowledge cooperation; social network analysis; decoration; small-world effect