An agent-based information foraging model of scientific knowledge creation and spillover in open science communities

  • Authors:

  • Özgür Özmen;Levent Yilmaz

  • Affiliations:

  • Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, Auburn University;Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, Auburn University

  • Venue:
  • Proceedings of the 2012 Symposium on Agent Directed Simulation
  • Year:
  • 2012

Quantified Score

Hi-index 0.00

Visualization

Abstract

Motivation and problem-domain preferences of scientists can affect aggregate level emergence and growth of problem domains in science. In this study, we introduce an agent-based model that is based on information foraging and expectancy theory to examine the impact of rationality and openness on the growth and evolution of scientific domains. We simulate a virtual socio-technical system, in which scientists with different preferences search for problem domains to contribute knowledge, while considering their motivational gains. Problem domains become mature and knowledge spills occur over time to facilitate creation of new problem domains. We conduct experiments to examine emergence and growth of clusters of domains based on local interactions and preferences of scientists and present preliminary qualitative observations.