How are flows of information in Iranian network of universities’ websites? Examining small world theory in network of top Iranian’s universities

Subject Areas : Journal of Knowledge Studies

Hamzeali Nourmohamadi ¹ , Abdolsamad Keramatfar ² , Leila Soleymaniardakani ³

1 - Faculty member of Shahed University
2 - Department of Science and Technology Assessment, Scientific Information Science (SID)
3 - Vice Chancellor for Research of Shiraz University

Received: 2015-12-07 Accepted : 2016-02-06 Published : 2017-02-19

Keywords: social network analysis, Webometrics, network, Small world, Universities’ top websites,

Abstract :

Purpose: Small world is on the theories in the field of social network analysis and consists of clusters that are globally connected. This situation in a network leads to a network of appropriate flow of information among network members, which can increase network productivity. On this basis, this paper aims to investigate the situation in the network of top Iranian universities websites. Methodology: The study is in the field of Webometrics with an analysis of the country's top universities web sites network using indicators of network. Top 199 universities of the Iran and SID is Statistical Society. Analysis performed by Webanalyst and Pajek applications. Findings: The highest numbers of incoming links is 45 for university of Tehran and the minimum value is zero. Maximum output links are 147 for Scientific Information Center website. Finally, the small world indicator is equal to 7.685085. Conclusion: Results show that small world network model exists in the network. So, a good structure of communication among academic websites has been established.

References:

اصنافی، ا.ر. و همکاران. (1392). بررسی وضعیت وب سایتهای کتابخانه‌های دانشکده‌ای و پژوهشکده‌ای در دانشگاه  شهید بهشتی. فصلنامه دانش شناسی(علوم کتابداری و اطلاع رسانی و فناوری اطلاعات)، 6(21).

فیروزمنش، افشین. )1390(. شبکه‌های اجتماعی مجازی از نگاه قوانین جاری. تحلیلگران عصر اطلاعات، (5) 46، 50-48.

عرفان منش، م.ا.؛ بصیریان جهرمی، ر.(1392). شبکه هم‌تألیفی مقالات منتشر شده در فصلنامه مطالعات ملی کتابداری و سازماندهی اطلاعات با استفاده از شاخصهای تحلیل شبکه‌های اجتماعی .فصلنامهمطالعاتملیکتابداریوسازماندهیاطلاعات، 24(2)، 76-96 .

عصاره، ف.؛  حیدری، غ.؛ زارع فراشبندی  ،ف. (1386) . تحلیل پیوندهای وب سایت‌های انجمن‌ها و مؤسسات ملی و بین المللی کتابداری و اطلاع رسانی. کتابداریواطلاعرسانی، 10(2)، 125-156.

نگهبان، م.ب. (1391). وب 2 و کتابخانه 2. شیراز: همارا.

نوروزی، ع. (1385). بررسی میزان حضور ایران در وب. فصلنامهکتاب، 17(4)، 52-62

Aguillo, I. F; Ortega, J. L; & Fernández, M. (2008). Webometric ranking of world universities: Introduction, methodology, and future developments. Higher education in Europe, 33(2-3),233-244.

Baraba´si,   A. L; Jeong, H;  Ne´da, Z;  Ravasz, E;  Schubert, A; Vicsek, T. (2012). Evolution of the social network of scientific collaborations. Physica A:Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 311(3–4), 590–614.

Brodka,  P.;  et al. (2011). A degree centrality in multy- layered social network. Paper presented in the International Conference on Computational Aspects of Social Networks, Wroclaw, Poland.

Choi, H;  Kim, S. H;  Lee, J.(2010). Role of network structure and network effects in diffusion of innovations. Industrial Marketing Management, 39(1), 170–177.

Fell, D. A., & Wagner, A. (2000). The small world of metabolism. Nature biotechnology, 18(11), 1121-1122.

Fleming, L; King, C; Juda, A. I. (2007). Small Worlds and Regional Innovation. Organization Science, 18(6), 938 -954.

doi:10.1287/orsc.1070.0289

Freeman, L. (2004). The Development of Social Network Analysis: A Study inthe Sociology of Science. Vancouver: Empirical Press.

Frey berg, I. (2006).  How small is this world? An application of small world theory to study of global networks, 6(3), 221-244.

Kargar, M. J. (2011). University Website Ranking from Usability Criteria Perspective; A Case Study in IRAN. International Journal of Advancements in Computing Technology, 3(11).

Kogut, B;  Walker, G. (2001). The small world of Germany and the durability of national networks.  American Sociological Review, 66,  317–335.

Korte, C; Milgram, S. (1970). Acquaintance networks between racial groups: Application of the small-world method. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 15, 101-108.

Montoya, J. M; Sole, R. V. (2002). Small world patterns in food webs. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 214(3), 405–412.

Pendleton, V; Chatman, E. (1998). Small world lives: Implications for public library. Library Trends; spring, 46 (4), 732, 20.

Rapoport, A;  Horvath, W. J. (1961). A  study of a large sociogram. Behavioural Science, (6),  280-285.

Schilling, M. A; Phelps, C. C. (2007).  Interfirm collaboration networks: The impact of large-scale network structure on firm innovation. Management Science, 53(7), 1113–1126.

Shulman, P. (1998).  From mohammad ali to grandmaroze. Discover, 19 (2), 885-889.

Travers, J; Milgram, S. (1969). An experimental study of the small world problem.Sociometry, 32, 425.  Available from: http://www.webometrics.info/

Wang, N; Wang, X; Sun, Q;   Zhao, L. (2008). Innovations Diffusion on Heterogeneous Newman-Watts Small-World Network: A Computer Simulation. Information Management, Innovation.

Watts, D. J; Strogatz, S. H. (1998). Collective dynamics of small-world”networks. Nature, 393(6684), 440–442.