Offline vs. Online interactions: The effects on scientific research

Abstract

Does digital technology lead to the death of distance? In this paper, we explore this question through the lens of scientific innovation in universities. To assess the impact of online and offline communication on the quantity and quality of scientific research, we employ the difference-in-differences approach, using two types of exogenous shocks—the adoption of Broadband China and the opening of urban subway system—as proxy for improvements in online and offline communication respectively. By analyzing these two treatments within a unified framework, we find that both online and offline communication can enhance the quantity of scientific research in universities. Meanwhile, online communication cannot improve the quality of scientific research, whereas offline communication can significantly boost the publications in top-tier journals. In terms of the underlying mechanism, we find that the increase in research quantity is mainly driven by increased collaboration, and the improvement in research quality results from reduced execution costs.