Networks Matter: Examining Co-Authorship Networks Among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Doctoral Students and Recipients in STEM Fields

• In Event: STEM Matters: The Importance of Centering Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Students

Abstract

This paper examines the co-authorship networks and co-authorship strategies of BIPOC doctoral students and PhD recipients in STEM fields. Co- authorship networks reflect tangible research collaborations and provide scholars with social capital (e.g., resources) that have important career implications. Using social network analysis, we examine the architecture and structure of each scholars’ network; we further classify each egocentric network into different co-authorship strategies (e.g., bonding, bridging, etc.). The results suggest that the number of unique co-authors and publications increased with experience level. In analyzing co-authorship strategies, gender differences were found with males exhibiting more bonding strategies and females exhibiting more bridging or combination strategies. This distinction between genders held across experience levels.

Authors

• Ebony O. McGee, Johns Hopkins University

• Shelly Engelman, Custom EduEval LLC

• Thema Monroe-White, Berry College