New Linked Data on Research Investments: Scientific Workforce, Productivity, and Public Value

33 Pages Posted: 25 Oct 2014

See all articles by Julia Lane

Julia Lane

Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA); Wagner Graduate School of Public Service

Jason Owen-Smith

University of Michigan at Ann Arbor

Rebecca Rosen

American Institutes for Research

Bruce A. Weinberg

Ohio State University (OSU) - Economics; IZA Institute of Labor Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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Abstract

Longitudinal micro-data derived from transaction level information about wage and vendor payments made by federal grants on multiple U.S. campuses are being developed in a partnership involving researchers, university administrators, representatives of federal agencies, and others. This paper describes the UMETRICS data initiative that has been implemented under the auspices of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation. The resulting data set reflects an emerging conceptual framework for analyzing the process, products, and impact of research. It grows from and engages the work of a diverse and vibrant community. This paper situates the UMETRICS effort in the context of research evaluation and ongoing data infrastructure efforts in order to highlight its novel and valuable features. Refocusing data construction in this field around individuals, networks, and teams offers dramatic possibilities for data linkage, the evaluation of research investments, and the development of rigorous conceptual and empirical models. Two preliminary analyses of the scientific workforce and network approaches to characterizing scientific teams ground a discussion of future directions and a call for increased community engagement.

Keywords: UMETRICS, STAR METRICS, Science of Science Policy, linked data, scientific workforce, scientific networks

JEL Classification: C8, O3, J4

Suggested Citation

Lane, Julia and Lane, Julia and Owen-Smith, Jason and Rosen, Rebecca and Weinberg, Bruce A., New Linked Data on Research Investments: Scientific Workforce, Productivity, and Public Value. IZA Discussion Paper No. 8556, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2514749 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2514749

Julia Lane (Contact Author)

Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) ( email )

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Wagner Graduate School of Public Service ( email )

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Jason Owen-Smith

University of Michigan at Ann Arbor ( email )

Ann Arbor, MI
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Rebecca Rosen

American Institutes for Research ( email )

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Bruce A. Weinberg

Ohio State University (OSU) - Economics ( email )

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614-292-6701 (Phone)
614-292-3906 (Fax)

IZA Institute of Labor Economics

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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United States

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