A Study On The Growth Process Characteristics And Influence Factors Of Chinese Elite Scientists

Due to the increasingly dependence of modern social development on scientific and technological innovation, elite scientists have become the focus of attention for both pubic and governments. Therefore, more and more researchers have been engaged in research work on different groups of elite scientist, such as the Nobel Prize winners, academicians and so on. However, the studies which are related to highly cited groups, especially the Chinese ones are rare. We believe that analyses on Chinese highly cited scientists’growth process characteristics and influence factors will help us to enrich our knowledge on the cultivation, selection and utilization of the elite scientists, as well as to provide theoretical grounds for the establishment and adjustment of talent policies.On the basis of existing studies at home and abroad, this dissertation set up hypotheses in seven aspects. To discuss the research issue what are the growth process and influence factors of Chinese highly cited group, on the one hand, four databases were established with SPSS software based on the collected information concerning the samples’resumes, their published SCI papers and the journals on which they published by the approaches of Internet, Web of Science and Journal Citation Reports database. And analyses and assumption examination were as well carried out in different chapters. On the other hand, the author probed into the intermediary variables through gathering highly cited scientists’biographies, interviews and other qualitative materials.The major findings of this dissertation include as follows:(1)The scientific productivity of Chinese highly cited researchers is stable. Their publication quantity represents a trapezoidal curve, which has multiple peaks and high yield duration. Specifically, ①Chinese elite scientists have shown excellent research potential and capacity in their early career stage(0-6 professional years old), producing significantly more SCI papers compared to general colleagues.②The average publication quantity of highly cited Chinese scholars is significantly higher than ordinary scientists. They also have good performance among the overall international highly cited group. Moreover, their advantage majors includes mathematics, engineering, materials science and computer science. ③The quantity of SCI papers published by Chinese highly cited scientists in their whole academic career is rising steadily. Generally, the first obvious output peak comes around 10 years after doctoral graduation, while the second prominent period appears in professional age 20s, then there still be a stable time with high productivity after 30 professional years old. Some scientists even keep publishing in professional age 40s and have an end spurt after that. During the output peak period, their annual average amount of SCI papers published is more than 10 essays, while some samples even exceed dozens of papers. ④There is a large generational difference in the amount of publications between Chinese highly cited young scientists and their middle-aged predecessors. The younger generation is significantly in the lead almost throughout all stages of their academic career so far.(2)High quality research results(this study mainly refers to the highly cited papers) produced by Chinese elite group usually appear in their middle and later academic career section, with apparent multi-peak characteristic. Most of highly cited papers are original research achievements. They are mainly published in the high impact journals of Europe and the United States, which shows obvious "journals preference". The model of publication can be summarized as two kinds:①"popular authors+ famous journals" mode; ②"popular authors+general journals" model. However, with a different from our previous forecast, only a small number of highly cited papers are published on top journals of respective fields. And even quite a proportion of the essays are published in the JCR Q2-Q4 journals.(3)Chinese highly cited researchers acquire professional recognition with faster speed and higher reputation than ordinary scientists. They get obviously faster rank promotion and are elected as members of National Academy of Science at a relatively younger age. But the time relationship between professional prestige and first-class research findings is diversified. Overall, they are basically the winners in their scientific fields and reward system, which seems to verify Merton’s view on the positive interaction between the Scientific Reward System and academic output.(4) Qualitative analysis shows that three dimensions of factors-including the personal qualities, "significant others", and organizational environment-have made an profound impact on growth of Chinese highly cited scientists. Among them, the personal qualities refer to sex, social origin, early living area, diligence and interests, aspirations and ideals, the professional insight, and religion (a case study), etc.; "Significant other" includes teachers in all educational stage, the scientific research partners, and relatives, etc.; Organizational environments are consist of higher education institutions, work organization, lab environment and professional society. In addition, occupational mobility among different institutions is also an important variable influencing their academic growth.(5)Finally, this dissertation preliminarily demonstrates the dual effects between the Chinese culture (especially the traditional culture) and the growth of Chinese elite scientists(there are both positive effect and negative effect), and also the bilateral interrelationship between Chinese highly cited researchers and the development of Chinese culture (the former is limited by culture and meanwhile participate in cultural creation) from a theoretical perspective.This study shows that parts of our present talent introduction, support and reward policies are not in conformity with the growth regularity of elite scientists. For example, the multi-peak feature of research output (including high quality research results) does not support some existing rigid rules for a single age. The distribution feature of high quality papers does not support some scientific incentive policies that "peg" top journals. In addition, the discriminative performance characteristics of Chinese highly cited groups in different majors also require us to consider talent introduction policies in regard to the situation of different disciplines. Furthermore, the continuity of scientists’growth reminds that we should establish more long-term planning instead of attaching importance to talents selection merely at some stages. After all, only with a solid foundation for training, selection and utilization of elite scientists based on the study, this group can play a more effective role in practice.