Policy and the mapping of scientific change: a co-word analysis of research into environmental acidification

• Published in: Scientometrics 1988-09, Vol.14 (3-4), p.251-264
• Main Authors: LAW, J, BAUIN, S, COURTIAL, J.-P, WHITTAKER, J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acid rain; Air Pollution; Bibliometrics; Bibliometrics. Scientometrics. Evaluation; Content analysis; Environmental Protection; Exact sciences and technology; General aspects; Information and communication sciences; Information and document structure and analysis; Information processing and retrieval; Information science. Documentation; Library and information science. General aspects; Library materials; Pollution; Sciences and techniques of general use; Toxic Substances
• ISSN: 0138-9130; 1588-2861
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02020078

Recent developments in the co-word method of analyzing the scientific literature are described, & illustrated using the example of research on the environmental effects of acid rain. Co-word analysis of 377 papers published between 1979 & 1986 detects several prominent themes; their relationship to each other, the degree to which they are internally structured, & their centrality to the research question are described. The method can also be used to draw comparative research profiles for different countries. Though the data are only preliminary, they suggest that co-word analysis has been developed to the point where its results are both quite robust & easily assimilable, making it an appropriate tool for policy analysis. 2 Tables, 2 Figures. Modified HA