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. 2010 Aug;84(2):523-538.
doi: 10.1007/s11192-009-0146-3. Epub 2009 Dec 31.

Software survey: VOSviewer, a computer program for bibliometric mapping

Nees Jan van Eck, Ludo Waltman

Software survey: VOSviewer, a computer program for bibliometric mapping

Nees Jan van Eck et al. Scientometrics. 2010 Aug.

Abstract

We present VOSviewer, a freely available computer program that we have developed for constructing and viewing bibliometric maps. Unlike most computer programs that are used for bibliometric mapping, VOSviewer pays special attention to the graphical representation of bibliometric maps. The functionality of VOSviewer is especially useful for displaying large bibliometric maps in an easy-to-interpret way. The paper consists of three parts. In the first part, an overview of VOSviewer's functionality for displaying bibliometric maps is provided. In the second part, the technical implementation of specific parts of the program is discussed. Finally, in the third part, VOSviewer's ability to handle large maps is demonstrated by using the program to construct and display a co-citation map of 5,000 major scientific journals.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Map obtained using SPSS
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Map obtained using Pajek
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Screenshot of the main window of VOSviewer
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Screenshot of the label view
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Screenshot of the density view
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Co-citation map of 5,000 major scientific journals (label view)
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
The area between the fields of computer science and economics
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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