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Understanding the topic evolution in a scientific domain: An exploratory study for the field of information retrieval

Author

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  • Chen, Baitong
  • Tsutsui, Satoshi
  • Ding, Ying
  • Ma, Feicheng

Abstract

Understanding topic evolution in a scientific domain is essential for capturing key domain developments and facilitating knowledge transfer within and across domains. Using a data set on information retrieval (IR) publications, this paper examines how research topics evolve by analyzing the topic trends, evolving dynamics, and semantic word shifts in the IR domain. Knowledge transfer between topics and the developing status of the major topics have been recognized, which are represented by the merging and splitting of local topics in different time periods. Results show that the evolution of a major topic usually follows a pattern from adjusting status to mature status, and sometimes with re-adjusting status in between the evolving process. Knowledge transfer happens both within a topic and among topics. Word migration via topic channels has been defined, and three migration types (non-migration, dual-migration, and multi-migration) are distinguished to facilitate better understanding of the topic evolution.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Baitong & Tsutsui, Satoshi & Ding, Ying & Ma, Feicheng, 2017. "Understanding the topic evolution in a scientific domain: An exploratory study for the field of information retrieval," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 11(4), pages 1175-1189.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:infome:v:11:y:2017:i:4:p:1175-1189
    DOI: 10.1016/j.joi.2017.10.003
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    Cited by:

    1. Jian Xu & Yi Bu & Ying Ding & Sinan Yang & Hongli Zhang & Chen Yu & Lin Sun, 2018. "Understanding the formation of interdisciplinary research from the perspective of keyword evolution: a case study on joint attention," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 117(2), pages 973-995, November.
    2. David Doloreux & Jose Gaviria de la Puerta & Iker Pastor-López & Igone Porto Gómez & Borja Sanz & Jon Mikel Zabala-Iturriagagoitia, 2019. "Territorial innovation models: to be or not to be, that’s the question," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 120(3), pages 1163-1191, September.
    3. WATANABE Ichiro & SHIMIZU Hiroshi, 2024. "Mainstream Formation and Competitive Dynamics in the Computer Graphics Industry: Topic modeling analysis of US patents," Discussion papers 24018, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    4. Chen, Hongshu & Jin, Qianqian & Wang, Ximeng & Xiong, Fei, 2022. "Profiling academic-industrial collaborations in bibliometric-enhanced topic networks: A case study on digitalization research," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    5. Yating Li & Ye Chen & Qiyu Wang, 2021. "Evolution and diffusion of information literacy topics," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(5), pages 4195-4224, May.
    6. Jung, Sukhwan & Yoon, Wan Chul, 2020. "An alternative topic model based on Common Interest Authors for topic evolution analysis," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 14(3).
    7. Huichen Gao & Shijuan Wang, 2022. "The Intellectual Structure of Research on Rural-to-Urban Migrants: A Bibliometric Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-19, August.
    8. Wang, Xiaoguang & He, Jing & Huang, Han & Wang, Hongyu, 2022. "MatrixSim: A new method for detecting the evolution paths of research topics," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 16(4).
    9. Baitong Chen & Ying Ding & Feicheng Ma, 2018. "Semantic word shifts in a scientific domain," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 117(1), pages 211-226, October.
    10. Seyyed Reza Taher Harikandeh & Sadegh Aliakbary & Soroush Taheri, 2023. "An embedding approach for analyzing the evolution of research topics with a case study on computer science subdomains," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 128(3), pages 1567-1582, March.
    11. Huixin Wang & Jing Xie & Shixian Luo & Duy Thong Ta & Qian Wang & Jiao Zhang & Daer Su & Katsunori Furuya, 2023. "Exploring the Interplay between Landscape Planning and Human Well-Being: A Scientometric Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-24, June.
    12. Jian Xu & Ying Ding & Yi Bu & Shuqing Deng & Chen Yu & Yimin Zou & Andrew Madden, 2019. "Interdisciplinary scholarly communication: an exploratory study for the field of joint attention," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 119(3), pages 1597-1619, June.
    13. Lukun Zheng & Yuhang Jiang, 2022. "Combining dissimilarity measures for quantifying changes in research fields," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 127(7), pages 3751-3765, July.
    14. Jung, Sukhwan & Segev, Aviv, 2022. "DAC: Descendant-aware clustering algorithm for network-based topic emergence prediction," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 16(3).
    15. Chaker Jebari & Enrique Herrera-Viedma & Manuel Jesus Cobo, 2021. "The use of citation context to detect the evolution of research topics: a large-scale analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(4), pages 2971-2989, April.
    16. Lu Huang & Xiang Chen & Yi Zhang & Changtian Wang & Xiaoli Cao & Jiarun Liu, 2022. "Identification of topic evolution: network analytics with piecewise linear representation and word embedding," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 127(9), pages 5353-5383, September.
    17. Zhentao Liang & Jin Mao & Kun Lu & Gang Li, 2021. "Finding citations for PubMed: a large-scale comparison between five freely available bibliographic data sources," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(12), pages 9519-9542, December.
    18. Yosuke Miyata & Emi Ishita & Fang Yang & Michimasa Yamamoto & Azusa Iwase & Keiko Kurata, 2020. "Knowledge structure transition in library and information science: topic modeling and visualization," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 125(1), pages 665-687, October.
    19. David Chavalarias & Quentin Lobbé & Alexandre Delanoë, 2022. "Draw me Science," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 127(1), pages 545-575, January.
    20. Xu, Shuo & Hao, Liyuan & An, Xin & Yang, Guancan & Wang, Feifei, 2019. "Emerging research topics detection with multiple machine learning models," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 13(4).
    21. Mauricio Marrone, 2020. "Application of entity linking to identify research fronts and trends," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 122(1), pages 357-379, January.
    22. Qiang Gao & Xiao Huang & Ke Dong & Zhentao Liang & Jiang Wu, 2022. "Semantic-enhanced topic evolution analysis: a combination of the dynamic topic model and word2vec," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 127(3), pages 1543-1563, March.
    23. Qian, Yue & Liu, Yu & Sheng, Quan Z., 2020. "Understanding hierarchical structural evolution in a scientific discipline: A case study of artificial intelligence," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 14(3).
    24. Hengmin Zhu & Li Qian & Wang Qin & Jing Wei & Chao Shen, 2022. "Evolution analysis of online topics based on ‘word-topic’ coupling network," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 127(7), pages 3767-3792, July.

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