Before revision:  Recent research, however, shows that both large and small teams have their own merits. Small teams tend to expand the frontier of knowledge by creating disruptive research outcomes, while large teams are more apt to work in the established field and develop existing problems. Given different roles of big and small teams in research, the extent to which a country's scientific work is carried out by big/small teams is of great importance .
After revision:  Recent research, however, shows that both large and small sizes are essential in research, prompting us to analyze the extent to which a country's scientific work is carried out by big/small teams is of great importance .