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Development of a method for detection and trend analysis of research fronts built by lexical or cocitation analysis

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Abstract

Detecting homogeneous areas in research networks is a very common feature of bibliometric analysis, either for academic or policy purposes. The method presented here combines structural analysis and trend detection, by operating on a “thick-slice” of time, starting from co-citation or co-word analysis (applications of either type have already been carried on). Significance of “trend” of clusters is partially addressed, through an analysis of publication delays. Examples are given on a co-citation analysis in the field of astrophysics (1986–1989).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. LERECO, INRA, BP 527, F-44026, Nantes Cedex 03, (France)

    M. Zitt & E. Bassecoulard

  2. Observatoire des Sciences et des Techniques (OST), 93 rue de Vaugirard, F-75006, Paris, (France)

    M. Zitt

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  1. M. Zitt
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  2. E. Bassecoulard
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Zitt, M., Bassecoulard, E. Development of a method for detection and trend analysis of research fronts built by lexical or cocitation analysis. Scientometrics 30, 333–351 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02017232

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02017232

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