Informetrics Research Methods Outlined

Abstract

This chapter provides a conceptual scope of informetrics by defining the concept and demonstrating its relationship with bibliometrics, scientometrics, webometrics, cybermetrics, and altmetrics. It demonstrates that informetrics is a quantitative research design that assumes a realistic ontology and objectivism as the epistemological perspective. Based on the data that was extracted from Scopus as well as a content review of selected calls for papers, the chapter highligts methods and areas of informetrics research as reflected in the literature that was published in the subject domain and its sub-domains between 1991 and 2018. The author-supplied keywords, which were the items of analysis, yielded 96 interconnected research methods and 361 areas in which informetrics research can be applied or undertaken. Finally, the chapter provides informetrics students and developing researchers with an outline of the elements that would constitute their research proposals and research methodology chapters of their theses and dissertations.