Statistical Relationship of Demographic and Scientometric Indicators with Edi-torial Board Members Interlocking: A Case Study of Astronomy and Astro-physics Journals

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Information Management Department, Islamic World Science and Technology Monitoring and Citation Institute (ISC), Shiraz, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Information Management Department, Islamic World Science and Technology Monitoring and Citation Institute(ISC), Shiraz, Iran

Abstract

Purpose: Editorial Board Members (EBMs) play a vital and central role in the operation of peer-reviewed journals. A noteworthy phenomenon that underscores the effectiveness and significance of these EBMs is referred to as "Editorial Board Interlocking" (EBI). This occurs when experts and researchers serve on the editorial boards of multiple peer-reviewed journals within their field of study. The limited number of prominent, well-known, and capable researchers and scientists across various fields presents a significant challenge in selecting editors and editorial board members for reputable journals. Given the importance of these journals and the unique roles played by editorial board members, the phenomenon of editorial board member interchangeability has emerged, with many members serving on multiple journals. This situation raises concerns about the influence and effectiveness of editorial boards within the scientific community. This paper primarily aims to analyze the statistical relationship between demographic and scientometric indicators and the Editorial Board Interchangeability (EBI) in astronomy and astrophysics journals.
Methodology: This study was conducted using scientometric methods and indicators, employing a descriptive-analytical approach. It focuses on the editorial board members (EBMs) of all journals dedicated to astronomy and astrophysics. Data were collected from the Journal Citation Reports and the official websites of peer-reviewed journals. Statistical analyses included both descriptive and inferential methods, such as frequency distributions, percentage calculations, and correlation tests, specifically Pearson, Spearman, and Mann-Whitney tests. Within Iran's Science and Technology Roadmap, astronomy and astrophysics are identified as high-priority fields, frequently emphasized in major research and technology policies.
Findings: There is no significant difference in the EBI of journals in astronomy and astrophysics based on gender or academic rank. Although the editorial team comprises five times more men than women, the gender of the editorial board members does not influence the level of EBI. Moreover, the analysis reveals no significant relationship between the Journal Impact Factor and the quartile ranking (Q) of these journals in relation to their Editorial Board Influence (EBI). The findings also indicate no significant correlation between the citation counts of astronomy and astrophysics journals and their EBI. Conversely, a relatively strong and direct correlation exists between the number of scientific publications from various countries and the number of editorial board members (EBMs) affiliated with journals based in those countries. The results presented in this article show that 38.95% of editorial board members affiliated with journals possessing an EBI, and 30.47% of the EBI journals themselves, are based in the United States, indicating a predominance of American nationality.
Furthermore, 11.58% of the editorial board members are from Russia, while a combined total of 32.6% come from the United Kingdom and Italy. In terms of geographical distribution, the Netherlands, Russia, and the United Kingdom rank second to fourth, with respective shares of 17.41%, 13.05%, and 6.52% in the publication of journals with EBI in the field of astronomy and astrophysics. The cumulative proportion of editorial board members associated with EBI from the United States, Russia, and the United Kingdom is 56.85%. Moreover, these three countries represent 50.49% of the journals affiliated with EBI. This data suggests that more than half of both the editorial board members and the journals associated with EBI are located in the United States, Russia, and the United Kingdom, thereby reflecting American, Russian, and British nationalities. Additionally, it is noteworthy that approximately half of the journal publishers and editorial board members affiliated with EBI in the field of astronomy and astrophysics share a common nationality across the three aforementioned countries.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that individual factors such as gender, scientific rank, impact factor, and citation count do not significantly influence the EBI of astronomy and astrophysics journals. Instead, this phenomenon is more strongly affected by network structure and social ties than by individual characteristics. Additionally, countries with higher scientific production, such as the United States, Russia, and the United Kingdom, play a prominent role in EBI due to their more advanced scientific resources and research infrastructures compared to developing countries. Overall, EBI appears to be more closely related to international interactions and scientific collaborations. A limitation of this study is the need to conduct similar research on Persian astronomy and astrophysics journals at the ISC Institute, incorporating other scientometric indicators and variables related to journals, as well as examining the EBI of journals in other physics disciplines.

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References

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