Research on the Measurement of Knowledge Diffusion Speed in Citation Networks

Abstract

Knowledge diffusion speed has an important influence on knowledge innovation efficiency, especially in the field of science and technology. This paper analyzes the knowledge diffusion process and the connotation of knowledge diffusion speed, and uses the citation network as a model to describe the mechanism of knowledge diffusion. Along with the characteristics of citation itself, the topological parameters of citation networks are defined. By assigning citation lag as the weight of edges, the citation network becomes a sequential network. Based on these ideas, this paper embarks from the topological structure of the citation network, establishes the measurement indexes of knowledge diffusion speed from both an integral perspective and an individual perspective, and reports empirical research. Results show that integral knowledge diffusion speed measurement indexes can reflect the development speed and tendency of a research topic, while individual knowledge diffusion speed measurement indexes can reflect the contribution of a particular work to the development of a research topic. This paper provides new insights regarding the objective and reasonable evaluation of a research topic's evolution process and a scientific paper's value.