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PubMed · 16251946

Human dynamics: Darwin and Einstein correspondence patterns.

João Gama Oliveira·Albert-László Barabási
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Abstract

In an era when letters were the main means of exchanging scientific ideas and results, Charles Darwin (1809-82) and Albert Einstein (1879-1955) were notably prolific correspondents. But did their patterns of communication differ from those associated with the instant-access e-mail of modern times? Here we show that, although the means have changed, the communication dynamics have not: Darwin's and Einstein's patterns of correspondence and today's electronic exchanges follow the same scaling laws. However, the response times of their surface-mail communication is described by a different scaling exponent from e-mail communication, providing evidence for a new class of phenomena in human dynamics.

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Correspondence as TopicElectronic MailHistory, 19th CenturyHistory, 20th CenturyHistory, 21st CenturyReaction TimeStatistics as TopicTime FactorsBiographyHistorical ArticleJournal Article

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João Gama Oliveira, Albert-László Barabási. 2005-10-27. Human dynamics: Darwin and Einstein correspondence patterns.. https://doi.org/10.1038/4371251a

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PubMed2006

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Correspondence as Topic↗
PubMed2006

[Quality of the publication of adverse drug reactions in the letters to the editor section of four Spanish internal medicine and general medicine journals].

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Correspondence as Topic↗
PubMed2006

Maximising response to postal questionnaires--a systematic review of randomised trials in health research.

BACKGROUND: Postal self-completion questionnaires offer one of the least expensive modes of collecting patient based outcomes in health care research. The purpose of this review is to assess the efficacy of methods of increasing response to postal questionnaires in health care studies on patient populations. METHODS: The following databases were searched: Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, CDSR, PsycINFO, NRR and ZETOC. Reference lists of relevant reviews and relevant journals were hand searched. Inclusion criteria were randomised trials of strategies to improve questionnaire response in health care research on patient populations. Response rate was defined as the percentage of questionnaires returned after all follow-up efforts. Study quality was assessed by two independent reviewers. The Mantel-Haenszel method was used to calculate the pooled odds ratios. RESULTS: Thirteen studies reporting fifteen trials were included. Implementation of reminder letters and telephone contact had the most significant effect on response rates (odds ratio 3.7, 95% confidence interval 2.30 to 5.97 p = or <0.00001). Shorter questionnaires also improved response rates to a lesser degree (odds ratio 1.4, 95% confidence interval 1.19 to 1.54). No evidence was found that incentives, re-ordering of questions or including an information brochure with the questionnaire confer any additional advantage. CONCLUSION: Implementing repeat mailing strategies and/or telephone reminders may improve response to postal questionnaires in health care research. Making the questionnaire shorter may also improve response rates. There is a lack of evidence to suggest that incentives are useful. In the context of health care research all strategies to improve response to postal questionnaires require further evaluation.

Correspondence as Topic↗