Journal article
Examining the usage, citation, and diffusion patterns of bibliometric mapping software: A comparative study of three tools
Journal of informetrics, v 12(2), pp 481-493
May 2018
Abstract
•This paper conducts a content analysis of a sample of 481 English core journal articles using three bibliometric mapping software tools (CiteSpace, HistCite and VOSviewer) to reveal the predominant mention and citation practices.•We employ several diffusion indicators (e.g., diffusion breadth and speed on the article, journal and domain levels) to provide insight into the influence and diffusion patterns of the three software tools.•Researchers mention and cite the three software tools in diverse ways and some of them fail to provide a formal citation of the three software tools.•Among the three software tools, VOSviewer is more frequently used than CiteSpace and HistCite.•The three tools are adopted fastest and most frequently in library and information science research, and they are then gradually adopted in other areas of study, initially at a lower diffusion speed but afterward at a rapidly growing rate.
This study investigates the use, citation and diffusion of three bibliometric mapping software tools (CiteSpace, HistCite and VOSviewer) in scientific papers. We first conduct a content analysis of a sample of 481 English core journal papers—i.e., papers from journals deemed central to their respective disciplines—in which at least one of these tools is mentioned. This allows us to understand the predominant mention and citation practices surrounding these tools. We then employ several diffusion indicators to gain insight into the diffusion patterns of the three software tools. Overall, we find that researchers mention and cite the tools in diverse ways, many of which fall short of a traditional formal citation. Our results further indicate a clear upward trend in the use of all three tools, though VOSviewer is more frequently used than CiteSpace or HistCite. We also find that these three software tools have seen the fastest and most widespread adoption in library and information science research, where the tools originated. They have since been gradually adopted in other areas of study, initially at a lower diffusion speed but afterward at a rapidly growing rate.
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Details
- Title
- Examining the usage, citation, and diffusion patterns of bibliometric mapping software: A comparative study of three tools
- Creators
- Xuelian Pan - School of Information Management, Nanjing University, Nanjing, ChinaErjia Yan - College of Computing and Informatics, Drexel University, Philadelphia, USAMing Cui - School of Information Management, Nanjing University, Nanjing, ChinaWeina Hua - School of Information Management, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Publication Details
- Journal of informetrics, v 12(2), pp 481-493
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Information Science
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000433891600007
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85045344019
- Other Identifier
- 991014976896404721
InCites Highlights
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Highly Cited Paper
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
- Information Science & Library Science