Can epidemic models describe the diffusion of topics across disciplines?
| dc.creator | Kiss, Istvan Z. | |
| dc.creator | Broom, Mark | |
| dc.creator | Craze, Paul | |
| dc.creator | Rafols, Ismael | |
| dc.date | 2009-05-22 | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-07-07T13:17:31Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-07-07T13:17:31Z | |
| dc.description | This paper introduces a new approach to describe the spread of research topics across disciplines using epidemic models. The approach is based on applying individual-based models from mathematical epidemiology to the diffusion of a research topic over a contact network that represents knowledge flows over the map of science -as obtained from citations between ISI Subject Categories. Using research publications on the protein class kinesin as a case study, we report a better fit between model and empirical data when using the citation-based contact network. Incubation periods on the order of 4 to 15.5 years support the view that, whilst research topics may grow very quickly, they face difficulties to overcome disciplinary boundaries. | |
| dc.description | 15 pages, 4 figures, 1 table | |
| dc.identifier | https://arxiv.org/abs/0905.3585 | |
| dc.identifier | http://arxiv.org/abs/0905.3585 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/231138 | |
| dc.subject | Physics and Society | |
| dc.title | Can epidemic models describe the diffusion of topics across disciplines? | |
| dc.type | text |