Intellectual structure of knowledge in iMetrics: A co-word analysis

As an iMetrics technique, co-word analysis is used to describe the status of various subject areas, however, iMetrics itself is not examined by a co-word analysis. For the purpose of using co-word analysis, this study tries to investigate the intellectual structure of iMetrics during the period of 1978 to 2014. The research data are retrieved from two core journals on iMetrics research (Scientometrics, and Journal of lnfonnetrics) and relevant articles in six journals publishing iMetrics studies. Application of hierarchical clustering led to the formation of 11 clusters representing the intellectual structure of iMetrics, including Scientometric Databases and Indicators, Citation Analysis, Sociology of Science, Issues Related to Rankings of Universities, Journals, etc., Information Visualization and Retrieval, Mapping Intellectual Structure of Science, Webometrics, Industry-University Government Relations, Technometrics (Innovation and Patents), Scientific Collaboration in Universities, and Basics of Network Analysis. Furthermore, a two-dimensional map and a strategic diagram are drawn to clarify the structure, maturity, and cohesion of clusters. (c) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.