BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS AS A METHOD OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH: OPPORTUNITIES AND LIMITATIONS

Malahov V.A.

Abstract

The article gives an overview of the use of bibliometric analysis in modern scientific research, analyzes its possibilities and limitations. It is noted that the growth of interest in quantitative research in the field of science is largely due to the development of international scientometric databases that aggregate vast amounts of data on scientific publications. The capabilities of modern bibliometric systems (such as Scopus, Web of Science, Google Academy, RSCI) were analyzed. Bibliometric analysis is most often used to create bibliographic reviews, to identify technological trends, to predict the direction of research and development of individual scientific fields. It is also used in studies on academic mobility, ethical problems of modern science, gender characteristics of the scientific community. The limitations of this approach are divided into two groups: 1) «entry barriers», which prevent all specialists from using the capabilities of bibliometrics, and 2) «inherent diseases» of modern scientometric databases, which limit the use of bibliometrics in some areas of scientometric research. It is concluded that the use of bibliometric analysis in scientific research is promising (in combination with other methods, including qualitative ones).

Keywords

bibliometrics; scientometrics; research methodology; citation index; quantitative research; science studies; bibliometric databases.

DOI: 10.31249/scis/2022.01.10

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