How research funding shapes academic outputs: Evidence from communication research paper characteristics and thematic trends in China

Jean J. Wang, Shu Wei, Fred Y. Ye

doi:10.2478/jdis-2025-0040

Journal of Data and Information Science >

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jdis-2025-0040

How research funding shapes academic outputs: Evidence from communication research paper characteristics and thematic trends in China

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¹School of Journalism and Communication, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China;
²International Joint Informatics Laboratory, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China;
³National Experiment Base for Intelligent Evaluation and Governance, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China

†Jean J. Wang (Email: jingjingwang@sdu.edu.cn; ORCID: 0000-0002-2960-7637).

Received date: 2025-02-13

Revised date: 2025-06-15

Accepted date: 2025-07-07

Online published: 2025-08-04

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Abstract

Purpose: To explore how different types of research funding affect research papers, with implications for optimizing funding policies and promoting sustainable research development.
Design/methodology/approach: We used social network analysis and citation analysis to compare the influence of funded and non-funded papers, as well as among different funding types. Multidimensional scaling and cohesive subgroup analysis revealed thematic differences.
Findings: Funded papers do not always show higher academic influence than non-funded ones, but multi-funded papers perform better than single-funded ones. Papers funded by international institutions and HKMT have a greater impact on the international academic community. Funded papers emphasize innovation and interdisciplinarity; non-funded papers focus more on classical theory application.
Research limitations: This study used only the WoS Core Collection, potentially missing other funding sources.
Practical implications: The findings inform the refinement of funding policies and support strategies that encourage impactful and innovative research.
Originality/value: This study offers a multi-level empirical analysis of how funding shapes research influence and thematic trends.

Key words： Funding support; Co-occurrence network; Cohesive subgroup; Multidimensional scale; Influence

Cite this article

Jean J. Wang, Shu Wei, Fred Y. Ye . How research funding shapes academic outputs: Evidence from communication research paper characteristics and thematic trends in China[J]. Journal of Data and Information Science, 0 : 1 -24 . DOI: 10.2478/jdis-2025-0040

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