This Book provides a practical, accessible pathway into the world of open bibliometric analysis. Grounded in the principles of open science and responsible metrics, this book equips researchers, librarians and institutions with the tools and methodologies to conduct transparent, reproducible and meaningful evaluations of scholarly literature.
The book covers the full lifecycle of a bibliometric study—from crafting research questions and constructing advanced search strategies in Scopus, to cleaning and structuring metadata, visualizing collaboration networks in VOSviewer, and performing statistical analyses in Biblioshiny. It explains how to apply PRISMA protocols in informetric workflows and how to explore co-authorship, citation, and keyword co-occurrence networks. Users are guided through creating thematic maps, trend analyses and conceptual structures with real data and workflows.
In addition to analysis, the book emphasizes reusability and interactivity by showing how to build bibliometric dashboards using Power BI, Tableau and RMarkdown. These dashboards can dynamically track citations, collaborations, and SDG-linked thematic clusters, making them invaluable for ongoing research evaluation.
The final chapters explore emerging directions—integrating altmetrics, applying machine learning for topic discovery, and advocating for a global, open informetric commons—while stressing ethical practices, transparency, and inclusivity. Whether for an early-career scholar or an institutional analyst, this book is both a step-by-step manual and a strategic resource for navigating the future of open bibliometrics.
Contents
Preface
Why Open Bibliometrics Matters
Who This Book Is For
A Note on Tools and Open Science
Chapter 1: Introduction to Open Bibliometrics (1-10)
The Rise of Open Research Analytics
Key Differences: Traditional vs. Open Bibliometrics
Reproducibility, Transparency, and Democratized Science
Chapter 2: Designing a Bibliometric Study (11-24)
Types of Bibliometric Reviews
Framing Research Questions
Choosing Between Journal-, Topic- or Field-Level Analysis
Applying the PRISMA Protocol to Informetric Workflows
Chapter 3: Data Collection Using Scopus (25-39)
Accessing Scopus Data
Creating and Exporting Custom Queries
Field Mapping and Format Selection
Cleaning Metadata for Analysis
Chapter 4: Visual Analytics with VOSviewer (40-52)
Installing and Launching the Tool
Mapping Co-Authorship, Keywords, and Citations
Adjusting Thresholds and Counting Methods
Exporting Visuals for Reports and Presentations
Chapter 5: Statistical and Trend Analysis with Biblioshiny (53-64)
Setting Up R and Bibliometrix
Navigating the Biblioshiny Interface
Generating Author, Source, and Country Metrics
Thematic Mapping and Conceptual Structures
Chapter 6: Case Study – Journal-Centric Analysis (65-117)
Pretext
Introduction
Methodology
Findings
Discussion
Practical Implications
Chapter 7: Building Reusable Bibliometric Dashboards (118-125)
Exporting and Structuring Data for Dashboards
Tools: Power BI, Tableau, RMarkdown
Live Tracking of Citations, Collaborations, and Thematic Clusters
Chapter 8: Applications for Stakeholders (126-131)
For Researchers: Identifying Trends and Gaps
For Institutions: Benchmarking and Strategic Planning
For Librarians: Supporting Scholarly Analytics
For Funders: Mapping Research Impact to SDGs
Chapter 9: Future Directions in Open Bibliometrics (132-140)
Integrating Altmetrics and Full-Text Analysis
Machine Learning for Topic Discovery
Building a Global Informetric Commons
Ethical Use and Data Transparency
Objectives & Topics
This book aims to democratize bibliometric analysis by providing a practical, accessible framework for scholars to evaluate research impact, thematic evolution, and collaborative structures using open-source tools. The primary research goal is to empower researchers, journal editors, and librarians to transition from proprietary, closed systems to transparent, reproducible, and community-driven methodologies.
- The principles of Open Bibliometrics and open science values.
- Step-by-step implementation of open-source tools including Scopus, VOSviewer, Biblioshiny, and Bibliometrix.
- Methodological design of bibliometric studies, including PRISMA-compliant protocols.
- Strategies for metadata cleaning, data visualization, and building reusable interactive dashboards.
- Practical applications for stakeholders ranging from researchers to funding agencies.
Auszug aus dem Buch
1.1 The Rise of Open Bibliometrics
The 21st-century research ecosystem is characterized by an unprecedented explosion of scientific publications, increasingly interdisciplinary collaborations and growing demands for transparent and accountable research evaluation. In this context, bibliometrics has emerged as a central methodology for mapping and interpreting scholarly activity (Aria & Cuccurullo, 2017; Hood & Wilson, 2001). Traditionally dominated by proprietary tools and inaccessible methodologies, the field of bibliometrics has undergone a paradigm shift toward openness, reproducibility and democratization. This evolution has given birth to what we now refer to as "Open Bibliometrics."
Open Bibliometrics (OB) is more than a technical approach—it is a philosophical and methodological commitment to making bibliometric data, tools and analyses freely available and reproducible by all (Bosman et al., 2021). It aligns with broader Open Science movements that seek to ensure equitable access to knowledge and promote transparency across the entire research lifecycle (Vicente-Sáez & Martínez-Fuentes, 2018). Open Bibliometrics emphasizes the use of open-access datasets, community-developed software and FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles (Wilkinson et al., 2016). As such, it is not only a counterbalance to commercial scientometric platforms but also a catalyst for innovation in how research performance is assessed, scholarly trends are identified and knowledge gaps are addressed.
Summary of Chapters
Chapter 1: Introduction to Open Bibliometrics: This chapter establishes the conceptual framework for Open Bibliometrics, emphasizing the shift toward transparency, reproducibility, and democratized science in research evaluation.
Chapter 2: Designing a Bibliometric Study: This chapter guides researchers through the study design process, covering different review types, research question formulation, and the application of the PRISMA protocol.
Chapter 3: Data Collection Using Scopus: This chapter details the technical process of retrieving, filtering, and cleaning bibliographic data from the Scopus database to ensure high-quality, reproducible inputs.
Chapter 4: Visual Analytics with VOSviewer: This chapter explains how to use VOSviewer for generating interactive network maps, covering installation, threshold adjustment, and visual export strategies.
Chapter 5: Statistical and Trend Analysis with Biblioshiny: This chapter introduces the R-based Biblioshiny interface for performing sophisticated statistical analyses and mapping conceptual structures without deep coding skills.
Chapter 6: Case Study – Journal-Centric Analysis: This chapter applies the previously discussed methodologies to a real-world analysis of the Computer Applications in Engineering Education journal.
Chapter 7: Building Reusable Bibliometric Dashboards: This chapter demonstrates how to transform static data into dynamic, interactive dashboards using Power BI, Tableau, and RMarkdown.
Chapter 8: Applications for Stakeholders: This chapter explores the utility of bibliometric insights for researchers, institutions, librarians, and funding agencies in decision-making and strategic planning.
Chapter 9: Future Directions in Open Bibliometrics: This chapter outlines emerging trends such as altmetrics, machine learning integration, and the move toward a global informetric commons.
Keywords
Open Bibliometrics, Scopus, VOSviewer, Biblioshiny, Bibliometrix, Science Mapping, Research Evaluation, Data Visualization, PRISMA, Reproducibility, Open Science, Research Impact, Co-authorship Networks, Bibliometric Dashboards, Scientometrics
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental purpose of this book?
This book provides a practical, hands-on guide for researchers to perform rigorous bibliometric analysis using open-source tools, enabling a transparent and reproducible approach to research evaluation.
Which specific research areas are addressed in the book?
The book focuses on scholarly communication, science mapping, and research evaluation, with a detailed case study concerning engineering education.
What is the primary goal of the bibliometric approach advocated here?
The primary goal is to shift research evaluation away from opaque, proprietary systems toward a participatory, inclusive model that leverages open data and community-developed software.
Which technical tools are introduced to the reader?
The book covers the use of Scopus for data extraction, VOSviewer for visual network analysis, and the R-based package Bibliometrix/Biblioshiny for statistical and conceptual analysis.
What topics are covered in the main section of the book?
The main sections cover research design, data acquisition and cleaning, visual analytics, statistical trend analysis, case studies, and the implementation of interactive dashboards.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Open Bibliometrics, Scopus, VOSviewer, Biblioshiny, Science Mapping, Reproducibility, and Research Impact.
How does this book address the needs of institutional stakeholders?
Chapter 8 specifically details how bibliometric insights and dashboards can be utilized by institutions for benchmarking, strategic planning, and identifying research gaps.
What is the role of the PRISMA protocol in the methods described?
PRISMA is integrated as a standardized review protocol to ensure that data collection, filtering, and synthesis are transparent and reproducible, which is essential for academic integrity.
How can researchers use the dashboards discussed?
Dashboards built with tools like Power BI or RMarkdown allow for live, real-time monitoring of citation trajectories, research collaborations, and thematic shifts within specific fields.
- Quote paper
- Dr. Bikram Jit Singh (Author), Dr. Rippin Sehgal (Author), 2025, Open Bibliometrics in Action. A Hands On Guide Using Scopus, VOSviewer & Biblioshiny, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1602625
