Which Factors Help To Produce High Impact Research? A Combined Statistical Modelling Approach

This study uses an appropriate statistical model to simultaneously assess five factors under the control of researchers that may help to produce highly cited research: individual collaboration; institutional collaboration; international collaboration; research funding; and abstract readability in Biology & Biochemistry, Chemistry and Social Sciences. Using a negative binomial-logit hurdle model, the results show that individual collaboration is a significant determinant of citation counts in all three areas. Institutional teamwork gives a citation advantage in Social Sciences but international teamwork shows no significant association with citation counts. Research funding very significantly associates with increased citation counts in Biology & Biochemistry and Chemistry but abstract readability is not found to be significant. In summary, individual teamwork and research funding are the keys to high impact research, at least in these three areas.