# Relationships in Scientific Research

The ontology of scientific research identifies the intricate web of relationships between various actor types and subprocesses, illustrating how entities collaborate, influence, and support each other within the research ecosystem. These relationships form a bipartite graph, connecting actors to specific subprocesses and highlighting their roles and contributions. This document provides an overview of these relationships, detailing how each actor type engages with different subprocesses.

## Relationships Overview

| Actor Type             | Subprocess          | Relationship                                                                                          | Examples                                                                                          |
|------------------------|---------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Researchers/Teams      | Peer Review         | Researchers submit their work for peer review, contributing to the validation of scientific findings. | - Submitting a paper to a journal<br>- Reviewing a colleague's grant proposal                     |
| Journals               | Publication         | Journals facilitate the publication process, ensuring that research findings are disseminated.       | - Publishing a groundbreaking study<br>- Special issues focusing on emerging research themes      |
| Researchers/Teams      | Citation            | Researchers cite previous work to build upon existing knowledge and acknowledge contributions.       | - Citing foundational work in a new study<br>- Compiling a literature review                      |
| Researchers/Teams      | Replication         | Researchers attempt to replicate studies to confirm findings and contribute to scientific reliability.| - Replicating a study in a different context<br>- Publishing replication results                   |
| Researchers/Teams      | Presentation        | Researchers present ongoing work to exchange ideas and receive feedback.                             | - Presenting at an international conference<br>- Hosting a seminar series                         |
| Research Disciplines   | Canonization        | Disciplines establish consensus on theories and methodologies, guiding future research.               | - Standardizing a new methodology<br>- Updating curriculum to include new theories                 |
| Research Institutions  | Operationalization  | Institutions apply research findings to develop new technologies or policies.                        | - Technology transfer offices<br>- Policy development based on research outcomes                   |
| Research Institutions  | Accreditation       | Institutions undergo accreditation to attest to their adherence to standards.                        | - Accreditation of a new research lab<br>- University department accreditation                     |
| Researchers/Teams      | Credentialing       | Researchers receive credentials recognizing their expertise and contributions.                       | - Awarding a doctoral degree<br>- Professional certification in a specialized field               |
| Grant Programs         | Assessment          | Grant programs assess research proposals to allocate funding effectively.                            | - Evaluating grant applications<br>- Strategic planning for research funding allocation            |
| Funding Institution    | Appropriations      | Funding institutions allocate financial resources to support research initiatives.                   | - Government research grants<br>- Corporate sponsorship of research                                |
| Research Institutions  | Procurement         | Institutions procure necessary equipment and services for research activities.                       | - Purchasing lab equipment<br>- Contracting with external labs for specialized services            |
| Researchers/Teams      | Production          | Researchers engage in the daily tasks of research, including experiments and analysis.               | - Conducting experiments in a lab<br>- Fieldwork data collection                                   |
| Researchers/Teams      | Documentation       | Researchers document their methods and findings to ensure transparency and reproducibility.          | - Maintaining detailed lab notebooks<br>- Depositing data in public repositories                   |
| Oversight Institution  | Ethical Oversight   | Oversight bodies ensure research adheres to ethical standards.                                       | - IRB review of a clinical trial<br>- Ethics review of animal research                             |
| Research Institutions  | Affiliation         | Institutions provide support infrastructure and resources to affiliated researchers.                 | - University hosting a research group<br>- Lab offering facilities to visiting researchers         |
| Application Institution| Operationalization  | Application institutions implement research findings in practical settings.                          | - Startups commercializing new technologies<br>- Healthcare systems adopting new treatment protocols|

## Note to Readers

This document outlines key relationships between actors and subprocesses in the scientific research ontology, offering a glimpse into the collaborative and interdependent nature of the research ecosystem. It is important to note that this table is not exhaustive but highlights significant and representative relationships.

As the ontology evolves, we aim to expand on these relationships, providing deeper insights and additional examples. We encourage contributions from the community to further refine and enhance the understanding of these relationships. If you have insights, suggestions, or wish to contribute detailed analyses of specific relationships, please engage with this repository.