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Bibliometric indicators to identify emerging research fields: publications on mass gatherings

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Abstract

The present study analyzes scientific publications on mass gatherings, characterizing its development as an emerging research field. We identified publications on mass gatherings, analyzing the scientific production and carrying out a co-citation analysis. We identified the works of reference that have laid the intellectual foundation for the field as well as the main scientific disciplines and journals that have contributed to its development. We identified 278 documents that cited 7149 bibliographic references. The 2006–2010 period saw a dramatic increase in the number of works published. Papers on mass gatherings also appeared frequently in multidisciplinary journals of high visibility and impact. The co-citation analysis revealed the existence of five clusters or thematic nuclei in research of the area. One large cluster brings together different studies on the prevalence of infectious diseases associated with pilgrimages to Mecca, and another cluster focuses on planning and response for health services in the context of mass gatherings associated with sporting events. Different indicators help characterize the nature of this emerging field, in which we observe the absence of a stable research community, the recentness of the bibliographic citations, and a high concentration of publications on the topic, with no peripheral areas of investigation. The study of mass gatherings is an emerging area of research with a notably multidisciplinary nature. Given the relevance and incidence of mass gatherings in relation to population health, it is necessary to foster the conditions that favor the consolidation of the field as a topic of research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of History of Science and Documentation, Universitat de València, 15, Blasco Ibáñez Avenue, 46010, Valencia, Spain

    Gregorio González-Alcaide

  2. Center for Development Cooperation and Volunteerism, Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, Avenida de la Universidad s/n, 03202, Elche, Alicante, Spain

    Pedro Llorente

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, 12, Pintor Baeza, 03010, Alicante, Spain

    José M. Ramos

  4. Department of Medicine, Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, Alicante, Spain

    José M. Ramos

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  1. Gregorio González-Alcaide
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  2. Pedro Llorente
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  3. José M. Ramos
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Correspondence to Gregorio González-Alcaide.

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González-Alcaide, G., Llorente, P. & Ramos, J.M. Bibliometric indicators to identify emerging research fields: publications on mass gatherings. Scientometrics 109, 1283–1298 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-016-2083-2

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