The transformation of scientific communication systems in the digital age: towards a methodology for comparing scientific communication cultures Velden, Theresa Lagoze, Carl scientific communication research cultures comparative analysis network analysis ethnographic methods qualitative and quantative methods chemistry We argue that a key question for the comparison of the field-specific shaping of scientific communication systems in the Digital Age is the identification and characterization of the unit of research: scientific collectives and their communication cultures. We address this conceptual and methodological challenge using a combination of ethnographic methods and network analysis. In this paper we present a basic methodological approach that we have developed in a pilot study of research groups in chemistry. Our first results underline the value of combining quantitative and qualitative methods. Not Published Not peer reviewed Not Published Oxford Research Archive internal ID: ora:2338 ora:2338 en Restricted: Full content available from 2008-09-10 (ISO 8601) urn:uuid:e7662a20-c16b-42b0-a45c-664cc1fed129