Evaluating the Scientific Collaborations among Type-1 Medical Sciences Universities at National and International Levels Based on Indexed Documents in ISI Web of Knowledge During 2004-2008

To investigate the scientific collaborations (for the papers indexed in ISI web of knowledge) among researchers from type-1 universities of medical sciences during 2004-2008, the present study was conducted. Webometrics based upon the co-authorship index was used. The population under study included the Tehran, Shahid Beheshti, Iran, Shiraz, Isfahan, Mashhad, Tabriz, JondiShapour (Ahvaz) and Kerman Universities of Medical Sciences. To collect data, all documents related to each of these universities were initially retrieved from the ISI web of knowledge database. Then the statistical methods of abundance distribution and abundance percentage in form of table and graph, and Spearman’s correlation coefficient for analysis of the relations among the variables were used. Considering the results, highest ratio of national scientific collaborations to total scientific publications with descending order was assigned to the Kerman, Iran, and Shahid Beheshti Universities of Medical Sciences. Most international scientific collaborations were made with researchers from the US, UK, and Canada. Pharmacology and pharmacy were the fields with highest rate of scientific collaboration, both at national and international levels. Results of Pearson’s correlation test indicate a significant relationship between scientific publications of the universities and their national scientific collaborations, between scientific publications of the universities and their international scientific collaborations, and between their national and international scientific collaborations.Originality/Value: In addition to providing an overview of the status of scientific collaborations among researchers in type-1 universities of medical sciences, the present study has identified the fields which have received attention from researchers in their scientific collaborations.