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Informetrics and the study of science–society communications: a bibliometric scoping review

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  • Sándor Soós

    (Library and Information Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA)
    Eötvös Loránd University)

  • Anna Kiss

    (Library and Information Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA)
    Eötvös Loránd University)

Abstract

Informetrics with its frameworks and methods has long been playing a prominent role in the study of science–society communications. The aim of the present work is an exploratory study of this domain of research, via a scoping review based on enhanced bibliometric methods. The leading research questions concern the cognitive structure of the subject, its position in the broader context of science communication studies and social studies of science, and the role and contributions of informetrics in advancing the field. To overcome the difficulties stemming from the complex definition of the subject, we use an indirect, link-based search strategy for database construction. Our methodological framework consists of a combination of bibliographic coupling (identifying main research streams), various representations of semantic networks (analyzing the cognitive organization of individual research streams), and the systematic synthesis of the results we call quasi content analysis. Beyond uncovering the role and context of informetrics in the study of science–society communications, our results contribute to the conceptual clarifications on such timely issues as the meaning of altmetrics or the notion of social impact in recent informetrics paradigms.

Suggested Citation

  • Sándor Soós & Anna Kiss, 2020. "Informetrics and the study of science–society communications: a bibliometric scoping review," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 124(2), pages 825-842, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:124:y:2020:i:2:d:10.1007_s11192-020-03444-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-020-03444-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bar-Ilan, Judit, 2008. "Informetrics at the beginning of the 21st century—A review," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 2(1), pages 1-52.
    2. Hadas Shema & Judit Bar-Ilan & Mike Thelwall, 2015. "How is research blogged? A content analysis approach," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 66(6), pages 1136-1149, June.
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