Mining interdisciplinary trajectories using multiple path analysis

Abstract

Network analysis is found to be effective for mining various aspects from technological and scientific literature. Path analysis, a major tool in the network analysis trio, consists of two crucial steps-weight assignment and search method. An innovative search scheme namely, key-route search method is found to be capable of retrieving multiple paths. Recently, a framework that explored the power of combined networks or NoNs (Network of networks) for interdisciplinarity assessment was proposed. In this work, a framework that utilizes the strength of NoNs and the integrated approach to path analysis is developed for mining the interdisciplinary trajectories in techno-scientific literature. Among the two major weight assignment schemes such as SPC and FV gradient schemes, FV gradient is found to better leverage key-route search scheme in mining multiple evolutionary trajectories with interdisciplinary interactions. This framework can serve as a handy tool for a multitude of beneficiaries including policy makers.