SSRN (Social Science Research Network) - Short Review

Product Overview: Social Science Research Network (SSRN)

The Social Science Research Network (SSRN) is a premier online platform dedicated to the rapid worldwide dissemination of social science and humanities research. Founded in 1994 and acquired by Elsevier in 2016, SSRN serves as a comprehensive repository and online community for scholars, researchers, and institutions.

Key Purpose

SSRN is designed to facilitate the early distribution of research results, making it an essential tool for researchers to share their work, collaborate, and gain visibility in their fields. The platform’s mission is to bring “tomorrow’s research today” by providing immediate access to a vast array of research papers, working papers, and published articles.

Key Features

Content and Contributions

• SSRN hosts over 671,000 paper abstracts and 562,000 full-text papers from more than 300,000 authors, making it one of the largest collections of social science and humanities research.
• The platform accepts a broad range of content, including working papers, accepted papers, published papers, conference papers, PowerPoint presentations, infographics, case studies, white papers, and proceedings.

Disciplinary Networks

• SSRN is subdivided into various disciplinary networks, each focusing on a specific area of social science and humanities. Examples include the Financial Economics Network, Economics Research Network, Legal Scholarship Network, Management Research Network, and Accounting Research Network.

Accessibility and Visibility

• SSRN operates on a freemium model, where submissions and downloads are free for users. This model ensures that research is widely accessible and can reach a global audience.
• The platform enhances the online presence of researchers by allowing them to host their work, which can be linked to personal or professional websites, LinkedIn profiles, and social media platforms.

Research Paper Series

• Institutions can feature their research through SSRN’s Research Paper Series, which allows for the creation of branded eJournals. This feature includes control over branding and publication frequency, as well as metrics to track the impact and dissemination of the research.

Metrics and Impact Tracking

• SSRN provides qualitative and quantitative metrics beyond downloads and citations. Users can track which institutions, corporations, government departments, and NGOs are viewing and downloading their research. Additionally, metrics include the dissemination of research via social media, blogs, and news sources.

Community and Collaboration

• With over 2 million members, SSRN fosters a vibrant online community where researchers can share, discuss, and collaborate on their work. The platform facilitates connections between researchers, potential collaborators, and stakeholders.

Partnerships and Integration

• SSRN partners with numerous journals, publishers, and institutions to provide a robust collection of research papers. This includes partnerships like the Fox School Research Paper Series, which integrates research into a monthly newsletter with a significant subscriber base.

Functionality

User Interface and Search

• Users can search for articles using various fields such as title, abstract, author-supplied keywords, author name, and full-text of the posted article. Advanced search tips are available to help users navigate the extensive database effectively.

Subscription and Access

• Users can register for free and access a wide range of research papers. Institutional subscriptions, such as those provided by Emory University, offer additional networks and features to faculty members.

Support and Resources

• SSRN offers support through its operations team and provides resources for uploading and managing research papers. Institutions can also seek assistance from their respective research offices or libraries for help in using the platform.

In summary, SSRN is a powerful tool for researchers in the social sciences and humanities, offering a comprehensive platform for sharing, collaborating, and tracking the impact of research. Its extensive database, user-friendly interface, and robust metrics make it an indispensable resource for scholars and institutions worldwide.