Global Research Trends and Hot Topics on Library and Information Science: A Bibliometric Analysis

Authors

Sirous Panahi Associate Professor in Librarianship and Medical Information Department, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mahshid lotfi, School of Health Management and Information Science, Iran university of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.Follow
Ali Ouchi, School of Health Management and Information Science, Iran university of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.Follow

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Abstract

Background and objective: One of the approaches to represent scientific publications in a field of science is to determine research trends and hot topics. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the research trends on the Library and Information Science (LIS) in the Scopus database during 2011-2020 and specify the hot topics in this field from July 2020 to July 2021.

Materials and Methods: This study used scientometric techniques. The research population consisted of all papers in the field of LIS from July 2011 to July 2021. The data were collected from the Scopus database. The results were limited to 2011-2020 for determining the research trends in the field of LIS and from July 2020 to July 2021 for specifying the hot topics in this field. Data were analyzed using the word co-occurrence and social network analysis techniques, and UCINet, NetDraw, and VOSviewer software were used to draw scientific maps and identify core topics and individuals.

Results: The keywords "Systematic Review" (frequency=531) and "Bibliometrics" (frequency=51) had the highest and lowest frequencies, respectively. "Libraries and information technology" (n=151), "research methods" (n=70), and "databases" (n=23) were the three important topic clusters in the study area, in which the United States, China, and the United Kingdom were the three most active countries, respectively. The Department of Library and Information Science, University of London, with 71 documents, and the Department of Information Management, University of Punjab, with 55 documents, had the most significant contribution of article publication among the influential institutions. Moreover, Zhang, Yut, and Wang, Liying each with 27 documents, and Li, Xiano with 24 documents were three active and influential authors in this field. In addition, "systematic review", "diffusion pattern", and "bibliometric" were also three hot topics.

Conclusion: This study revealed that the orientation of the LIS research is going from traditional topics toward novel and emerging technologies. The results of this study can provide valuable information to researchers in LIS at the domestic and international levels.