Mapping the Information and Communication Technology Research Landscape Through Bibliometric Analysis

This study examines the significant impacts of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on various sectors such as education, communication, and business, highlighting the importance of understanding research trends in this field. The objective is to utilize bibliographic analysis techniques to analyze ICT publications from the Dimensions database, offering an overview of the current state and interconnectedness of ICT research across scientific dimensions. The methods involve conducting a bibliometric analysis using visual representations to rank search results by country, organization, source (journal), author, document, and keyword co-occurrence. The analysis identified discrepancies in bibliographic linkages, influential institutions, researchers, and prevalent research themes. The results reveal discrepancies in bibliographic linkages by country, with the UK showing the highest linkage strength. Research on the metaverse displayed distinct network groups focused on specific countries. The University of Johannesburg made significant contributions, while Bournemouth University’s research on the metaverse’s impact on tourism management received many citations. The journal Sustainability emerged as the most prominent, with Heliyon showing a notable publication trend. Document-linked bibliographic analysis highlighted important citations in online education, and keyword co-occurrence analysis revealed the prevalence of “information communication technology” and its relationships with other commonly used terms. In conclusion, this comprehensive bibliometric study highlights the contributions of various countries, institutions, and researchers in ICT research, emphasizing emerging themes such as the metaverse and online education. Future research should address identified gaps and biases in the dataset for a more nuanced understanding of global ICT research trends.