Fábio Castro Gouveia

Site co-link analysis applied to small networks: a new methodological approach

The method of co-link was proposed in 1996 and since then it has been applied in many Webometric studies. Its definition refers to “page co-link analysis”, as links are provided by URLs or pages. This paper presents a new methodological approach, a “site co-link analysis”, to investigate relations in small networks. The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation institutes were used as a case study. The results indicate that the number of co-links provided by sites led to an increase of 133% in the sample analyzed. In a cluster analysis, three clusters were formed mainly for thematic reasons and four institutes remained isolated.

Cooperation in Health: Mapping Collaborative Networks on the Web

Objective To map and investigate the relationships established on the web between leading health-research institutions around the world. Methods Sample selection was based on the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centres (CCs). Data on the 768 active CCs in 89 countries were retrieved from the WHOs database. The final sample consisted of 190 institutions devoted to health sciences in 42 countries. Data on each institutions website were retrieved using webometric techniques (interlinking), and an asymmetric matrix was generated for social network analysis. Findings The results showed that American and European institutions, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), are the most highly connected on the web and have a higher capacity to attract hyperlinks. The Karolinska Institute (KI-SE) in Sweden is well placed as an articulation point between several integrants of the network and the components core but lacks general recognition on the web by hyperlinks. Regarding the north-south divide, Mexico and Brazil appear to be key southern players on the web. The results showed that the hyperlinks exchanged between northern and southern countries present an abysmal gap: 99.49% of the hyperlinks provided by the North are directed toward the North itself, in contrast to 0.51% that are directed toward the South. Regarding the South, its institutions are more connected to its northern partners, with 98.46% of its hyperlinks directed toward the North, and mainly toward the United States, compared with 1.54% toward southern neighbors. Conclusion It is advisable to strengthen integration policies on the web and to increase web networking through hyperlink exchange. In this way, the web could actually reflect international cooperation in health and help to legitimize and enhance the visibility of the many existing south-south collaboration networks.

Mapping the web relations of science centres and museums from Latin America

In Latin America, interactive science centres and museums are key institutions for science communication. In order to map their relationship over the Internet, a Web co-link analysis was applied to 18 websites of science centres and museums affiliated to the Network for the Popularization of Science and Technology in Latin America and the Caribbean - RedPOP. Clustering analysis, multidimensional scaling (MDS) and an analysis of all pages with links to at least two websites were performed. Results showed that language barriers played a prominent role in clustering, with external recognition by the target public representing a secondary issue.

Relações intra-institucionais na Internet: um estudo exploratório com base em metodologias webométricas

Como uma abordagem inicial para um estudo mais aprofundado sobre a imagem e o impacto da Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz na Web, este artigo investiga as correlacoes entre os sites das unidades finalisticas da Instituicao localizada no estado do Rio de Janeiro. A metodologia utilizada baseou-se nas analises de co-link e interlink, e na formacao de agrupamentos (clustering analysis). Os dados apontaram para quatro agrupamentos distintos e uma Unidade isolada, alem de um baixo nivel de integracao entre os sites estudados.

Health research networks on the web: an analysis of the Brazilian presence

Con el proposito de mapear la presencia en la web de las instituciones brasilenas, en una red internacional de instituciones de investigacion en el campo de la salud, se realizo en 2009 un estudio de 190 instituciones, que representan a 42 paises. La muestra fue seleccionada en base a los centros colaboradores de la Organizacion Mundial de la Salud (OMS) y la metodologia se baso en analisis y tecnicas webmetricas, especialmente de interlinks y redes sociales. Los resultados muestran la presencia de cinco instituciones brasilenas, en especial de la Fundacion Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), que cuenta con conexiones a 20 paises y 42 instituciones. A traves de la interfaz entre el campo de la salud y de la web, este trabajo pretende contribuir no solo a un analisis mas detallado y un plan de reposicionamiento estrategico de estas instituciones en el mundo virtual, sino tambien al desarrollo de politicas publicas y el reconocimiento de la webmetria como un area que debe ser investigada y aplicada a otros campos del conocimiento.

Redes de pesquisa em saúde na web: uma análise da presença brasileira

Con el proposito de mapear la presencia en la web de las instituciones brasilenas, en una red internacional de instituciones de investigacion en el campo de la salud, se realizo en 2009 un estudio de 190 instituciones, que representan a 42 paises. La muestra fue seleccionada en base a los centros colaboradores de la Organizacion Mundial de la Salud (OMS) y la metodologia se baso en analisis y tecnicas webmetricas, especialmente de interlinks y redes sociales. Los resultados muestran la presencia de cinco instituciones brasilenas, en especial de la Fundacion Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), que cuenta con conexiones a 20 paises y 42 instituciones. A traves de la interfaz entre el campo de la salud y de la web, este trabajo pretende contribuir no solo a un analisis mas detallado y un plan de reposicionamiento estrategico de estas instituciones en el mundo virtual, sino tambien al desarrollo de politicas publicas y el reconocimiento de la webmetria como un area que debe ser investigada y aplicada a otros campos del conocimiento.

Cooperation in health: A cluster analysis of 190 research institutions

Introduction: Webometrics has been recognized as a science with great potential for application in various fields. However, studies in this area are still restricted to the large field of informetrics. Moreover, the debate surrounding the relation between the web and the health field has been dedicated to addressing issues of socioeconomic nature related to universal access and a new division between north and south. Objectives: With the aim of contributing to the broadening of webometrics to other areas of knowledge, this study intends to map on the web, in the light of international cooperation models, relations between major health research institutions. Results: Results showed predominantly thematic groupings, the reflection of a north-south cooperation model and a low expression of relations between institutions of south countries.