Using social network analysis to complete literature reviews: a new systematic approach for independent researchers to detect and interpret prominent research programs within large collections of relevant literature. Issue 5 (2nd September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cowhitt, Thomas; Butler, Timothy; Wilson, Elaine
• Is Part Of: International journal of social research methodology. Volume 23:Issue 5(2020)
• Page Start: 483
• Page End: 496
• Publication Date: 2020-09-02
• Subjects: Literature review -- systematic review -- social network analysis -- bibliometrics -- citation networks -- co-authorship networks; Sociology -- Research -- Periodicals; 300.72
• DOI: 10.1080/13645579.2019.1704356
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1364-5579

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Literature reviews are required at early stages of a traditional research progression. Many systematic approaches help researchers identify relevant literature. However, there is far less support for interpreting large collections of references. Understanding the evolution of knowledge within a discipline requires an awareness of the collaborative networks from which significant advances originate. Unfortunately, this relational awareness is only acquired after years of professional experience. Therefore, early-career researchers are at a fundamental disadvantage when conducting literature reviews. Social Network Analysis (SNA) can make the interpretation of large collections of literature more manageable. This paper provides a method for generating a co-authorship network from reference lists. The partition of the co-authorship network into communities provides a reviewer with direction to organise literature into meaningful groups. The interpretation of seemingly disparate and entangled research programs is far more manageable when interpreting smaller collections of highly relevant literature.