The Use and Significance of a Research Networking System

• DOI: 10.2196/jmir.3137
• Publication Date: 2014-02-07T15:58:18Z
• Authors: Maninder Kahlon; Leslie Yuan; John Daigre; Eric Meeks; Katie Nelson; Cynthia Piontkowski; Katja Reuter; Rachael Sak; Brian Turner; Griffin M Weber; Anirvan Chatterjee
• Keywords: Visitor pattern; Home page; Sample (material)

Universities have begun deploying public Internet systems that allow for easy search of their experts, expertise, and intellectual networks. Deployed first in biomedical schools but now being implemented more broadly, the initial motivator these research networking was to enable easier identification collaborators development teams research.The intent study provide description usage an institutional "social networking" system or (RNS).Number visits, visitor location type, referral source, depth visit, terms, click paths were derived from 2.5 years Web analytics data. Feedback a pop-up survey presented users over 15 months summarized.RNSs automatically generate display profiles networks researchers. Within years, RNS at University California, San Francisco (UCSF) achieved one-seventh monthly visit rate main longstanding university website, with increasing trend. Visitors came diverse locations beyond institution. Close 75% (74.78%, 208,304/278,570) via engine 84.0% (210 out sample 250) queried individual's name took them directly relevant profile page. In addition, 20.90% (214 1024) visits went page related person interest explore researchers topics through novel networked information provided by tool. At end period analyzed, than 2000 per month traversed 5 links into people topics. One-third returning visitors who significantly likely continue (P<.001). Responses online suggest broad range benefits using supporting clinical mission.Returning ever-increasing pool are among those behavior consistent tool identify new Through direct user feedback we know some do result research-enhancing outcomes, although cannot address scale impact. With rapid pace acquiring searching individual names, is evolving kind gateway university.