The 2018 OECD International Survey of Scientific Authors (ISSA) surveyed over 12,000 scientific authors to understand trends in scientific research and the digitalization of science. Key findings include: 1) Most authors are between 35-45 years old and work in universities or government agencies. 2) 65% of authors' work results in new data or code. 3) Social networks are commonly used to disseminate research information to wider audiences, while data sharing practices vary significantly by field. 4) Computer science stands out in use of digital tools like big data and computational methods.

1. Understanding the world of
science and scientists
Findings from the 2018 OECD International
Survey of Scientific Authors

2. Purpose of the 2018 ISSA survey
Provide evidence on selected, priority aspects of scientific research to
inform science and research policies
Focus on statistical evidence on the digitalisation of science

3. The digitalisation of science:
What do we seek to measure?
Enablers/Obstacles
Impact
Extentandnature
Digital
tools
Research
methods
Data
Performance
Open access
Collaboration
Communication
Research
assessment
Infrastructure
Skills
Trust
Socio-
demographic
factors

4. The ISSA approach
 Contact information
 Survey sampling frame
 Monitor respondent profiles
(weighting and nonresponse an.)
 Complementary to survey data
(e.g. research quality – citations,
collaboration,… )
 Online global survey of
corresponding autors of sci. pubs
 Centralised OECD data collection =
data comparability
 Focus on urgent policy needs
 Obtained responses from 12k
corresponding authors of
scientific publications
Bibliografic
data
Survey data

5. RESULTS:
WHO ARE THE AUTHORS
FRONTING SCIENTIFIC
PUBLICATIONS?

6. Science field (ASJC) and sector code
(Frascati Manual) abbreviations
Code Field
AGRBIO Agricultural and Biological Sciences
ALL All fields combined
ARTHUM Arts and Humanities
BIOCHEM Biochemistry, Genetics, Molecular Biology, Immunology
and Microbiology
BUSMAN Business, Management and Accounting
CHEMENG Chemical engineering and Chemistry
COMPSCI Computer Science
ECODEC Economics, Finance and Decision sci.
ENERENV Energy and Environmental Science
ENG Engineering
EARPLAN Earth and Planetary Sciences
MATHS Mathematics
MEDHEAL Medicine and Health Professions
MATSCI Materials Science
MULTIDIS Multidisciplinary
PHARNEU Pharmacology, Toxicology, Pharmaceutics and
Neuroscience
PHYSAST Physics and Astronomy
SOCPSY Social Sciences and Psychology
HE= Higher education
PNP= Private non profit
GOV= Government
BE= Business enterprises (including public)

7. Age of corresponding scientific
authors, by field
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
Years
Source: Bello and Galindo-Rueda (2020a), based on OECD ISSA2018.
http://oe.cd/issa

8. Female corresponding scientific
authors, by field
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
%
Source: Bello and Galindo-Rueda (2020a), based on OECD ISSA2018.
http://oe.cd/issa

9. Female corresponding scientific
authors, by country of residence
Source: Bello and Galindo-Rueda (2020a), based on OECD ISSA2018.
http://oe.cd/issa
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
%

10. Scientific authors’ employment
sector, by science field
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
%
HE GOV PNP BE
Source: Bello and Galindo-Rueda (2020a), based on OECD ISSA2018.
http://oe.cd/issa

11. Scientific authors’ job security, by
country
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
%
Indefinite protected employment contract Fixed term employment contract Other indefinite
Source: Bello and Galindo-Rueda (2020a), based on OECD ISSA2018.
http://oe.cd/issa

12. Scientific authors’ job security by age
and occupation
Indefinite protected
employment contract
Other indefinite
Fixed term employment
contract
Age groups
Up to 34 16.45 8.88 74.67
35 to 44 34.37 14.38 51.25
45 to 54 52.69 18.08 29.22
55 to 64 61.63 12.94 25.43
65 or more 49.12 15.63 35.25
Occupation groups
University and Higher
Education Teaching
Professionals
52.84 11.15 36.02
Senior managers and
legislators
48.49 23.23 28.28
Science Professionals 35.4 15.09 49.51
Other Professionals 34.85 17.46 47.69
Associate professionals 21.36 13.66 64.98
Other occupations 35.24 6.33 58.43
Source: Bello and Galindo-Rueda (2020a), based on OECD ISSA2018.
http://oe.cd/issa

13. Engagement in research-related
activities, by sector
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
% All sectors GOV PNP BE HE
Source: Bello and Galindo-Rueda (2020a), based on OECD ISSA2018.
http://oe.cd/issa

14. Sci authors’ gross annual earnings
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
200 000 or more
150 000 - 199 999
120 000 - 49 999
105 000 - 119 999
90 000 - 104 999
75 000 - 89 999
60 000 - 74 999
45 000 - 59 999
30 000 - 44 999
15 000 - 29 999
Under 15 000
%
USD
Percentage of authors whose annual earnings belong to a specific range
Source: Bello and Galindo-Rueda (2020a), based on OECD ISSA2018.
http://oe.cd/issa

15. RESULTS:
DIGITALISATION OF
SCIENCE

16. 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
%
Only data Both data and code Only code Neither data nor code
Scientific production resulting in new
data or code
65% of scientific production results in new data or code
Source: Bello and Galindo-Rueda (2020b), based on OECD ISSA2018.
http://oe.cd/issa

17. Dissemination channels for data and
code
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
% Repository Journal Fellow researchers
As percentage of authors with data or code
 Data sharing practices are highly dependent on the field of research.
 Interpersonal exchanges is the most common practice
Source: Bello and Galindo-Rueda (2020b), based on OECD ISSA2018.
http://oe.cd/issa

18. 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
% Conventional data Big data Computational methods Sensors Autonomous machines Participative networks
Use and development of advanced
digital tools or methods
 Computer science standing out in big data and computational
methods use/development
 Some use in less common fields (e.g. social science)
Source: Bello and Galindo-Rueda (2020b), based on OECD ISSA2018.
http://oe.cd/issa

19. 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
%
Generic social networks Individual webpage or site within the author's organisation
Specialised academic profile or networking site An individual webpage created and maintained by the author
Channels used for online dissemination
of information about research, by field
 Significant uptake of generic social networks for communicating
research to a wider audience (35% of authors)
Source: Bello and Galindo-Rueda (2020b), based on OECD ISSA2018.
http://oe.cd/issa

20. -0.8
-0.6
-0.4
-0.2
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
Score Digital productivity tools Data/Code dissemination Advanced digital tools/big data Online presence and communication
Patterns of digitalisation in science, by
field
Above
average
Below
average
Source: Bello and Galindo-Rueda (2020b), based on OECD ISSA2018.
http://oe.cd/issa

21. -0.6
-0.4
-0.2
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
Score Digital productivity tools Data/Code dissemination Advanced digital tools/data Digital identity and communication
Patterns of digitalisation in science,
by country
Above
average
Below
average
Source: Bello and Galindo-Rueda (2020b), based on OECD ISSA2018.
http://oe.cd/issa

22. Links between digitalisation patterns
and author profile
Note:Country- and science field- fixed effects included in all regressions. Other variables included in the regressions are:
normalised citations, collaboration, open access publications, AI-related reference publication dummy.
Source: Bello and Galindo-Rueda (2020b), based on OECD ISSA2018. http://oe.cd/issa
Least square regression coefficients and confidence intervals

23. Authors’ earnings and their profiles
Least square regression coefficients and confidence intervals
Note: Country- and science field- fixed effects included in all regressions. Other variables included in the
regressions are: number of working hours; percentage of weekly working time spent on research; number of
publications; and collaboration.
Source: Bello and Galindo-Rueda (2020b), based on OECD ISSA2018. http://oe.cd/issa

24. Drivers of lifetime citation impact
and journal prestige
Least square regression coefficients and confidence intervals
Note: Country- and science field- fixed effects included in all regressions.
Source: Bello and Galindo-Rueda (2020b), based on OECD ISSA2018. http://oe.cd/issa

25. • Bello M. and F. Galindo-Rueda (2020a), “The 2018
OECD International Survey of Scientific Authors”,
OECD Science, Technology and Industry Working
Papers, OECD Publishing, Paris.
https://doi.org/10.1787/18151965
• Bello, M. and F. Galindo-Rueda (2020b). “Charting
the digital transformation of science: Findings from
the 2018 OECD International Survey of Scientific
Authors (ISSA2)”, OECD Science, Technology and
Industry Working Papers, OECD Publishing, Paris.
https://doi.org/10.1787/18151965
References

26. Website:
http://oe.cd/issa
Contact:
ISSA@oecd.org
Find about more about ISSA