Interdisciplinary scholarly communication: an exploratory study for the field of joint attention

Jian Xu (), Ying Ding, Yi Bu, Shuqing Deng, Chen Yu, Yimin Zou and Andrew Madden
Additional contact information
Jian Xu: Sun Yat-sen University
Ying Ding: Indiana University
Yi Bu: Indiana University
Shuqing Deng: Sun Yat-sen University
Chen Yu: Indiana University
Yimin Zou: Zhejiang Normal University
Andrew Madden: Sun Yat-sen University

Scientometrics, 2019, vol. 119, issue 3, No 13, 1597-1619

Abstract: Abstract Understanding communications across disciplines is critical to the promotion of interdisciplinary innovation. Using research into the psychological concept of joint attention (JA) as an example of shared interest, this paper focuses on studies of JA across three different domains (child psychology, robotics, and human–computer interaction) and analyzes topic evolution in JA in these three domains, as well as lead–lag and topic similarity between domains. Our empirical study has yielded interesting findings. First, the analysis of topic evolution indicates that the three domains have distinctive topic evolution patterns, which reflected in both the topic division and merge phenomena and points of focus. Second, lead–lag clearly exists between different domains, which allowed knowledge diffusion to be viewed from a macroscopic perspective. Third, topic similarity across different domains can be identified with its migrations and changes in content, which helps to improve understanding of the impact of topics between domains and of interdependence within disciplines. This paper provides a foundation for further research that may improve communications across disciplines, thereby facilitating interdisciplinary innovation.

Keywords: Interdisciplinary communication; Joint attention; Topic evolution; Lead-leg analysis; 94A05 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D83 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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DOI: 10.1007/s11192-019-03106-y

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