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

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

By: Jean J. Wang,  Shu Wei and  Fred Y. Ye  
Open Access
|Jun 2025

Figures & Tables

Figure 1.

Methodological workflow.
Methodological workflow.

Figure 2.

Annual trends in funded, non-funded, and total communication papers.
Annual trends in funded, non-funded, and total communication papers.

Figure 3.

Power-Law distribution of the number of funding grants per paper.
Power-Law distribution of the number of funding grants per paper.

Figure 4.

Comparison of academic impact between single-funded and multi-funded papers.
Comparison of academic impact between single-funded and multi-funded papers.

Figure 5.

Disciplinary co-occurrence networks of funded (left) and non-funded (right) papers.
Disciplinary co-occurrence networks of funded (left) and non-funded (right) papers.

Figure 6.

Clustering subgroup structures of funded (top) and non-funded (bottom) papers.
Clustering subgroup structures of funded (top) and non-funded (bottom) papers.

Figure 7.

Strategic thematic mapping of funded (left) and non-funded (right) papers based on MDS.
Strategic thematic mapping of funded (left) and non-funded (right) papers based on MDS.

Summary of key findings on research funding patterns and impacts_

Main FindingsDetails
Shifts in Funding Patterns and International CollaborationInitially reliant on international or HKMT funding, later dominated by national funding. International or HKMT funded papers have higher international impact.
Uneven Distribution of Funding ResourcesFunded papers follow a power-law distribution, with most receiving minimal support and few benefiting from multiple sources.
Multi-Funding as an Impact DriverMulti-funded papers outperform single-funded papers across all impact metrics. Diverse funding collaborations enhance visibility and academic strength.
Thematic Divergence and InnovationFunded research focuses on innovation and emerging technologies; non-funded papers apply classical theories.
Methodological Sophistication and Disciplinary AdvancementFunded papers employ advanced analytical methods, reflecting a shift toward data-driven scholarship; non-funded papers have less methodological innovation.

Statistics on research funding categories for communication papers in China_

YearNational FundsHKMT FundsInternational FundsProvincial and Municipal FundsUniversity FundsInstitutional FundsOther Funds
20080320000
20092031000
20100100000
20113091100
201212342000
20131200000
201411440001
20154018127801
2016662226181768
2017535734181244
2018914432281605
2019913220402027
20201214234332217
Total491228180148961333

Analysis of research funding on paper impact_

Research Funding CategoriesPaper NumberAverage Citation FrequencyZero Citation Rate (%)High Citation Rate (%)Average Journal Impact Factor
National Funds2929.36.8232.7
HKMT Funds18010.15.627.23.2
International Funds10711.26.530.83.4
Provincial and Municipal Funds1057.210.516.22.4
University Funds866.910.518.62.4
Institutional Funds99022.23.4
Other Funds318.59.712.92.0
Non-funded1,16214.85.528.32.9

Comparative thematic analysis of funded vs_ non-funded research_

DimensionFunded PapersNon-funded Papers
Core ThemesDigital transformation, crisis management, big data analysisClassical theories, agenda-setting, uses and gratifications
Methodological InnovationHigh (machine learning, network analysis, advanced text mining)Moderate to Low (traditional qualitative and quantitative)
Interdisciplinary IntegrationExtensive interdisciplinary collaborationsLimited interdisciplinary integration
Theoretical OrientationInnovative and exploratoryConfirmatory and theory-driven
Key Thematic ExamplesDigital divide, discourse analysis, social media platformsPolitical communication, third-person effect, media discourse

Density matrix of keyword clustering modules in funded papers_

M1M2M3M4M5M6M7M8M9M0M1M12M13M14M15M16
M10.80.080.101.0250.2670.5850.20.1330000000
M20.080.10.100.3250.06700.0670000000.050
M30.10.1000.31300.1920000000.2500
M40000.125000.077000000000
M51.0250.3250.3130.1251.7140.250.0960.0420.12500000.1250.0310
M60.2670.067000.250.3330.02600.2220.22200000.0830
M70.58500.1920.0770.0960.0260.0510.0770000000.0380
M80.20.067000.04200.0770.6670000.333000.0830
M90.1330000.1250.222002.3330.44400.1670000
M10000000.222000.4440.6670.3330.1670.333000
M110000000000.333000000
M1200000000.3330.1670.167010000
M130000000000.3330010.500
M14000.2500.12500000000.500.1250
M1500.05000.0310.0830.0380.083000000.12500
M160000000000000000

Density matrix of keyword clustering modules in non-funded papers_

M1M2M3M4M5M6M7M8M9M10M11M12M13M14M15M16
M131.4170.90.252.4171.0830.750.500000000
M21.4171.20.16700.2010.22200.08300.167000.16700.1670
M30.90.1670.30.30.1670.03300.100000000.1
M40.2500.300.125000.25000.2500000
M52.4170.2010.1670.1250.1850.1460.0630.1460.0210.0420.0830.08300.0420.0420.063
M61.0830.2220.03300.1460.73300.0830000.1670.3330.0830.5560.167
M70.750000.0630202.750000000
M80.50.0830.10.250.1460.083000.250100.25000
M900000.02102.750.25000.750.50000
M1000.167000.0420000000.50000
M110000.250.0830010.750100000
M1200000.0830.167000.50.5000000
M1300.1670000.33300.25000001.250.8330
M1400000.0420.0830000001.2510.1670
M1500.167000.0420.5560000000.8330.1671.3330.167
M16000.100.0630.167000000000.1670

Research funding classification_

Research Funding CategoryDescription
National FundsNational Natural Science Foundation of China, National Social Science Foundation of China, Ministry of Education Funds, Ministry of Science and Technology Funds, Central University Funds for Basic Research, China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, etc.
HKMT FundsFunds established by institutions and universities in Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, and Taiwan region of China.
International FundsFunds established by international universities, institutions, or enterprises, including the Simons Foundation, the Funda Foundation, and the South Pacific Research Foundation, etc.
Provincial and Municipal FundsNatural Science Funds of provinces and municipalities, Social Science Funds of provinces and municipalities, Shanghai Pujiang Program, Provincial Key Disciplines Program, Beijing Changping Scholar Program, etc.
University FundsFunds established by mainland-based Chinese universities.
Institutional FundsFunds established by research institutes for basic research, such as the National DiabetesResearch Institute and National Nephrology Research Institute, National Institute for Nutrition and Food Safety, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, CAS (Chinese Academy of Sciences) Foundation Projects, etc.
Other FundsFunds from the National Scholarship Council, Open Technology Funds, National Language Committee Funds, Thirteenth Five-Year Plan, Sino-American Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases Cooperation Program, Joint Funds, Chinese Legal Research Foundation, Tang Prize for Young Scholars, Corporate Funds, etc.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jdis-2025-0040 | Journal eISSN: 2543-683X | Journal ISSN: 2096-157X
Language: English
Page range: 122 - 145
Submitted on: Feb 13, 2025
Accepted on: Jul 7, 2025
Published on: Jun 22, 2025
Published by: Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Science Library
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 4 issues per year

© 2025 Jean J. Wang, Shu Wei, Fred Y. Ye, published by Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Science Library
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.