A bibliometric review on serendipity literature available in Web of Science database using HistCite and Biblioshiny
| Date | 24 July 2023 |
| Pages | 227-242 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/IDD-01-2023-0001 |
| Published date | 24 July 2023 |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Library & information services,Lending,Document delivery,Collection building & management,Stock revision,Consortia |
| Author | Abhijit Thakuria,Indranil Chakraborty,Dipen Deka |
A bibliometric review on serendipity literature
available in Web of Science database
using HistCite and Biblioshiny
Abhijit Thakuria
Department of Library and Information Science, Gauhati University, Guwahati, India
Indranil Chakraborty
Department of Library and information Science, University of Science and Technology Meghalaya, Techno City, India, and
Dipen Deka
Department of Library and Information Science, Gauhati University, Guwahati, India
Abstract
Purpose –Websites, search engines, recommender systems, artificial intelligence and digital libraries have the poten tial to support serendipity for
unexpected interaction with information and ideas which would lead to favored information discoveries. This paper aims to explore the current state
of research into serendipity particularly related to information encountering.
Design/methodology/approach –This study provides bibliometric review of 166 studies on serendipity extracted from the Web of Science. Two
bibliometric analysis tools HisCite and RStudio (Biblioshiny) are used on 30 years of data. Citation counts and bibliographic records of the papers are
assessed using HisCite. Moreover, visualization of prominent sources, countries, keywords and the collaborative networks of authors and institutions
are assessed using RStudio (Biblioshiny) software. A total of 166 papers on serendipity were found from the period 1989 to 2022, and the most
influential authors, articles, journals, institutions and countries among these were determined.
Findings –The highest numbers of 11 papers were published in the year 2019. Makri and Erdelez are the most influential authors for contributing
studies on serendipity. “Journal of Documentation”is the top-ranking journal. University College London is the prominent affiliation contributin g
highest number of studies on serendipity. The UK and the USA are the prominent nations contributing highest numbe r of research. Authorship
pattern for research on serendipity reveals involvement of single author in majority of the studies. OA Green model is the most preferred model for
archiving of research articles by the authors who worked on serendipity. In addition, majority of the research outputs have r eceived a citation
ranging from 0 to 50.
Originality/value –To the best of the authors’knowledge, this paper may be the first bibliometric analysis on serendipity research using
bibliometric tools in library and information science studies. The paper would definitely open new avenues for other serendipity researchers.
Keywords Web of Science, Serendipity, Information encountering, Bibliometrics
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
Serendipity is a phenomenon of unplanned encounter with
different resources like information, people and things in
various ways in different setup like library,museum, classroom,
laboratory, World Wide Web, social media, database,
repositories, television, radio or anywhere which leads to new
ideas and discoveries (Liestman, 1992;Bjorneborn,2008,
2017;McCay-Peet et al., 2014;Panahi et al.,2016). The
classical definition of serendipity defines sagacity as an
important ingredient where an individualshould have intuitive
skills, prepared mind and positive approach to insight the
hidden phenomenon to experience serendipity (Van Andel,
1993;Carr, 2015). There could be varying perception of
experiencing serendipity by different individuals in different
situations, whichcan be an inevitable part of human experience
and a latent phenomenon in everyone’slife. With the passage of
time, there are different modern manifestations of serendipity
(e.g. accidental discovery, information encountering [IE],
information discovery, luck by chance, etc.) (Erdelez,1995,
2004;Race and Makri,2016).
Serendipity phenomenon is a slippery concept which has
gained research attention in the context of information
acquisition, information behavior, information retrieval and
information-seeking models in library and information science
(LIS) domain. In this regard, there has not been a consistent
terminology to define this phenomenon (Williamson, 1998;
The current issue and full text archiveof this journal is available on Emerald
Insight at: https://www.emerald.com/insight/2398-6247.htm
Information Discovery and Delivery
52/2 (2024) 227–242
© Emerald Publishing Limited [ISSN 2398-6247]
[DOI 10.1108/IDD-01-2023-0001]
The author gives special thanks to the anonymous reviewers for their
valuable feedback and insightful comments on this paper.
Received 3 January 2023
Revised 2 May 2023
21 June 2023
Accepted 4 July 2023
227
Heinström, 2006;Makri and Blandford, 2012a;Erdelez and
Makri, 2020). Serendipityis also defined as a phenomenon that
arises from both conditions and strategies, which may be a
purposive and a nonpurposive component of information
seeking. Serendipity is a more relevant area in information-
seeking behavior, wherea person’s emotions, satisfactions, self-
interest and individual choices can develop serendipity
experiences in the process of seeking information through
random encounters, conversations and social interactions,
which often triggers amazing ideas and discoveries. These
discoveries might become insight, and insights can be the
building blocksof innovations (Foster and Ford, 2003).
Serendipity also refers to an accidental discovery of
information, which is different from purposive information
seeking, as it is more about encountering or stumbling upon
information when not directly looking for it, often drawing a
reaction of happiness, surprise and sometimes disappointment
as well (Erdelez, 1995,1997,2005;Cunha,2005;McCay-Peet
and Toms, 2010;Makri and Blandford,2012a, 2012b). There
are two types of serendipity, namely, “Classic”serendipity and
“Pseudo”serendipity,where the instances like:
find Y unexpectedly;
look for X and find Y unexpectedly;
look for X and find X by unexpected means; and
find an unexpected use for X or Y.
The first two instances are classic serendipity,while the last two
are pseudo serendipity(Lawley and Tompkins, 2013).
The present study is an attempt to assess and review the
available literature on serendipity using bibliometric
parameters. In the context of LIS domain, there are very few
studies on serendipity and its relevant areas specially using
bibliometrics applications.There are several qualitative studies
which provides core conceptual knowledge on serendipity
(Foster and Ford, 2003;McBirnie, 2008;McCay-Peet and
Toms, 2010;Sun et al., 2011;Rubin et al.,2011;Makri and
Blandford, 2012a). There are also few popular theoretical
frameworks for classifying serendipitous experiences (Foster
and Ford, 2003;Sun et al.,2011;Makri and Blandford,
2012b). Moreover, there are several empirical models
describing the process of serendipity(McBirnie, 2008;McCay-
Peet and Toms, 2010;Makri and Blandford, 2012a). During
the last decade, there has been a steady growth of studies
focusing on serendipity; as a result, this study will review all the
available literature and in additionby applying the bibliometric
analysis tools on the available bibliographic data to find the
research questionsformulated for this paper.
1.1 Etymology of serendipity
The word serendipity was first used by “Horace Walpole”in a
letter to his friend Sir Horace Mann in 1754. Walpole
explained an unexpected discovery of a lost painting by
reference to a Persian fairy tale “The Three Princes of
Serendip”(or Serendib, an ancient name for Ceylon, now
known as Sri Lanka), who “were always makingdiscoveries, by
accidents and sagacity, of things which they were not in quest
of”(Roberts,1989).
During the last century, the term serendipitywas rarely used.
The term gained its popularity featuring in Merton’sinfluential
book “Social Theory and SocialStructure.”Merton identified the
term “serendipity pattern”in empirical research, which refers
to the fairly common experience of observing an unanticipated
discovery that serves to advance theory development or
enhancement (Merton, 1957). According to 11th edition of
Merriam Webster dictionary, the term serendipity is defined as
“the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable
things not sought for.”And according to 13th edition Collins
dictionary,itisdefined as “Serendipity is the luck some people
have in finding or creating interesting or valuable things by
chance.”Both definitionsomit the term sagacity, which was an
important concept in Walpole’sdefinition on serendipity that
defines a prepared mind which has ability to make good
judgments with their intuition, skills and observe the valued
insights, and which, to the unprepared mind, might seem like
irrelevant information.As quoted by Louis Pasteur, “In the field
of observation, chance favours only the prepared minds”(Van
Andel, 1993;Foster and Ford, 2003;Lawley and Tompkins,
2008;Rubin et al.,2011;Carr, 2015).
2. Review of literature
2.1 Serendipity in digital environment (information
encountering)
Serendipitous information retrieval is an obvious result in an
information-rich digital environment. There are perhaps
tremendous chances of information to encounterand how well
it is supported by serendipity. A scale developed to measure
dimensions of serendipity identified in prior research by
conducting experimental research and found five factors
representing the core elements of support for serendipity in an
information-rich digital environment; these factors are enabled
connections, introduced the unexpected, presented variety,
triggered divergence and induced curiosity (McCay-Peet and
Toms, 2011). Websites and search engines have the potential
to support serendipity for unexpected interaction with
information and ideas which will result in some valued
outcomes. There are very few tools for measuring serendipity
support in the digital environment,and there is no data-driven
way guide for their development. Serendipity may be intended
by web designersand developers but must always be unplanned
by users (McCay-Peet et al., 2014). Information presentation
strategies in different types lead consumers to differently
evaluate a website as being diagnostic and serendipitous. An
attribute-based presentation of the website helps increase
consumer perceptions of website diagnosticity and serendipity
and ultimately contributes to consumers’overall satisfaction
with a website (Niu et al.,2021). Social media may also support
IE and serendipity, where individuals encounter useful and
interesting information while seeking or browsing for some
other information.As a result, this may lead to the facilitation of
tacit knowledge creation and sharing drawing upon knowledge
creation theories; thus, information encountered on social
media facilitates tacit knowledge creation and sharing among
individuals (Panahi et al., 2016). Serendipity is conceptualized
as unexpectedness and informational value elements, where
integration of social media and electronic commerce can also
cultivate serendipity (Grange et al.,2019). A survey of 1,173
German internet users was conducted to find the effects of
serendipity across three distinct contexts: online shopping,
information services and social networking sites. The study
Serendipity literature
Abhijit Thakuria, Indranil Chakraborty and Dipen Deka
Information Discovery and Delivery
Volume 52 · Number 2 · 2024 · 227–242
228
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