Skip to main content
Log in

International graduate training, digital inequality and professional network structure: An ego-centric social network analysis of knowledge producers at the “Global South”

  • Published:
Scientometrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Based on a face-to-face survey of 312 scientists from government research institutes and state universities in two Philippine locations — Los Baños, Laguna and Muñoz, Nueva Ecija — we examine how graduate training and digital factors shape the professional network of scientists at the “Global South.” Results suggest that scientists prefer face-to-face interaction; there is no compelling evidence that digitally-mediated interaction will replace meaningful face-to-face interaction. What is evident is that among none face-to-face modes of communication a reordering maybe in progress.

The effect of digital factors — expressed through advance hardware-software-user interaction skills — lies on network features pertaining to size, proportion of male and of core-based alters, and locational diversity. International graduate training and ascribed factors (gender and number of children) also configure the professional network of scientists — actors traditionally viewed as the epitome of rationality and objectivity. We argue that these factors influence knowledge production through a system of patronage and a culture that celebrates patrifocality. We forward the hypothesis that knowledge production at the “Global South” closely fits Callon’s [1995] extended translation model of science.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Beggs, J. J., Hurlbert, J. S. (1997), The social context of men’s and women’s job search ties: Membership in voluntary organizations, social resources, and job search outcomes, Sociological Perspectives, 40: 601–625.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beggs, J. J., Hurlbert, J. S., Haines, V. A. (1996a), Revisiting the rural-urban contrast: Personal networks in nonmetropolitan and metropolitan settings, Rural Sociology, 61: 306–325.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beggs, J. J., Hurlbert, J. S., Haines, V. A. (1996b), Situational contingencies surrounding the receipt of informal support, Social Forces, 75: 201–222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bijker, W. E. (1995), Sociohistorical technology studies. In: Handbook of Science and Technology Studies (Jasanoff, S., Markle, G. E., Petersen, J. C., Pinch, T., (Eds)), pp. 229–256. Sage, Thousand Oaks, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bijker, W. E. (1999), Of Bicycles, Bakelites, and Bulbs: Toward A Theory of Sociotechnical Change, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Borgatti, S. P., Jones, C., Everett, M. G. (1998), Network measures of social capital, Connections, 21: 27–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Callon, M. (1995), Four models for the dynamics of science. In: Handbook of Science and Technology Studies (Jasanoff, S., Markle, G. E., Petersen, J. C., Pinch, T., (Eds), pp. 29–63. Sage Publication, Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Castells, M. (1989), The Informational Mode of Development and the Restructuring of Capitalism.

  • Castells, M. (2000), The Information Age: Economy, Society and Culture: The Rise of the Network Society. 2nd edit, 1, Blackwell Publishers, Inc., Malden, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Castells, M. (2001), The Internet Galaxy. Reflections on the Internet, Business, and Society, Oxford University Press, Inc., New York, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coleman, J. S. (1988), Social capital in the creation of human capital, American Journal of Sociology, 94: S95–S120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Collins, H. M. (1983), The sociology of scientific knowledge: studies of contemporary science, Annual Review of Sociology, 2: 265–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Collins, H. M. (2001), Tacit knowledge, trust and the q of sapphire, Social Studies of Science, 31: 71–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crane, D. (1972), Invisible College: Diffusion of Knowledge in Scientific Communities, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Down, J. (2000), [Review of the Book Tracit Knowledge in Professional Practice: Researcher and Practitioner Perspectives] Administrative Science Quarterly, 45: 170–173.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ehikhamenor, F. A. (2003), Internet facilities: Use and non-use by Nigerian university scientists, Journal of Information Science, 29: 35–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gieryn, T. F. (1995), Boundaries of science. In: Handbook of Science and Technology Studies (Jasanoff, S., Markle, G. E., Petersen, J. C., Pinch, T., (Eds)), pp. 393–443. Sage, Thousand Oaks, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Granovetter, M. (1973), The strength of weak ties. American Journal of Sociology, 78: 1360–1380.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Granovetter, M. (1974), Getting a Job: A Study of Contacts and Careers, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hurlbert, J. S., Beggs, J. J., Haines, V. A. (2001), Social networks and social capital in extreme environments. In: Social Capital: Theory and Research (Lin, N., Cook, K., Burt, R. S., (Eds)), pp. 209–231. Aldine de Gruyter, Hawthorne, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hurlbert, J. S., Haines, V. A., Beggs, J. J. (2000), Core networks and tie activation: What kinds of routine networks allocate resources in non-routine situations? American Sociological Review, 65: 598–618.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knorr-Cetina, K. (1995), Laboratory studies: The cultural approach to the study of science. In: Handbook of Science and Technology Studies (Jasanoff, S., Markle, G. E., Petersen, J. C., Pinch, T., (Eds). Sage, Thousand Oaks, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Latour, B. (2002), We Have Never Been Modern. Trans. Porter, C., Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacKenzie, D., Spinardi, G. (1995), Tacit knowledge, weapons design, and the uninvention of nuclear weapons, American Journal of Sociology, 101: 44–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marsden, P. V. (1987), Core discussion networks of Americans, American Sociological Review, 52: 122–131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marsden, P. V. (1990), Network data and measurement, Annual Review of Sociology, 16: 435–463.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marsden, P. V. (2003), Models and methods in social network analysis. In: Recent Developments in Network Measurements (Carrington, P. J., Scott, J., Wasserman, S., (Eds)). Cambridge University Press, New York, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  • McPherson, J. M., Smith-Lovin, L. (1987), Homophily in voluntary organizations: Status distance and the compositions of face-to-face groups, American Sociological Review, 52: 370–379.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McPherson, J. M., Smith-Lovin, L., Cook, J. M. (2001), Birds of a feather: homophily in social networks, Annual Review of Sociology, 27: 415–444.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McPherson, M., Smith-Lovin, L., Brashears, M. (2006), Social isolation in America: Changes in core discussion network over two decades, American Sociological Review, 71: 353–375.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neuman, W. L. (2006), Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. 6th edit, Allyn and Bacon, Boston, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olesko, K. M. (1993), Tacit knowledge and school formation. Osiris 2nd Series 8: 19–29.

  • Otte, E., Rousseau, R. (2002), Social network analysis: A powerful strategy, also for the information sciences. Journal of Information Science, 28: 441–453.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ritzer, G., Goodman, D. (2004), Sociological Theory. 6th edit, Mc-Graw Hill, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogers, E. M. (1995), Diffusion of Innovations, Free Press, New York, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sassen, S. (2000), Cities in a World Economy, Pine Forge Press.

  • Schott, T. (1993), World science: Globalization of institutions and participation. Science, Technology and Human Values, 18: 196–208.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shrum, W., Bankston, C. (1993/1994), Organizational and geopolitical approaches to international science and technology networks. Knowledge and Policy, 6: 119–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shrum, W., Beggs, J. (1997), Methodology for studying research networks in the developing world: Generating information for science and technology policy. Knowledge and Policy, 9: 62–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sklair, L. (2001), The Transnational Capitalist Class, Blackwell, Oxford, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smelser, N. J. (1997), Problematics of Sociology: The Georg Simmel Lectures, 1995, University of California Press, Berkeley, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith-Lovin, L., Mcpherson, J. M. (1993), You are who you know: A network approach to gender. In: Theory on Gender/Feminism on Theory (England, P., (Ed.)). Aldine de Gruyter, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stehr, N., Ed. (2000), Modern Societies as Knowledge Societies. Handbook of Social Theory. Edited by Ritzer & Smart. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wasserman, S., Faust, K. (1994), Social Network Analysis: Methods and Applications, Cambridge University Press, New York, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wellman, B., Berkowitz. (1991), Structural analysis: From method and metaphor to theory and substance. In: Social Structures: A Network Approach (Wellman, B., Berkowitz, S. D., (Eds)), pp. 19–62. Cambridge University Press, New York, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ynalvez, M., Duque, R. B., Mbatia, P., Sooryamoorthy, R., Palackal, A., Shrum, W. (2005), When do scientists “adopt” the internet? Dimensions of connectivity in developing areas. Scientometrics, 63: 39–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ynalvez, M., Shrum, W. (2006), International training and the digital divide: Computer and email use in the Philippines. Perspective on Global Development and Technology, 5: 277–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marcus Antonius Ynalvez.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ynalvez, M.A., Shrum, W. International graduate training, digital inequality and professional network structure: An ego-centric social network analysis of knowledge producers at the “Global South”. Scientometrics 76, 343–368 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-007-1936-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-007-1936-0

Keywords

Navigation