Factorial analysis for performance evaluation in research of top 25 Countries in the World

In this paper we carry out an end-to-end bibliometric performance analysis of the top 25 Countries using data from the latest (2014) release of the Scimago Institutions Rankings (SIR). We track six variables through the following chain: input-output-excellenceoutcome-productivity, as proposed by Savithri and Prathap (2015). Factorial analysis then allows us to extract two orthogonal variables representing the quantity and a quality/productivity dimensions respectively. The main results show that the quantity dimension is size-dependent while the quality and productivity dimension is sizeindependent. Factorial analysis allows to cluster the Countries in six groups according to their high-medium-low performance. Then, factorial analysis has been replicated using the whole set of SIR indicators in order to verify the contribute of other variables (Leadership, Specialization, Internationalization, Impact) in defining the overall research performance of a country. We found that: a) the Countries can be grouped in three clusters, according to size and quality performance; b) the addition of other SIR indicators in factorial analysis, in term of cluster and performance, leads to similar results to those obtained using the factorial analysis carried on the end-to-end chain variables.