Intellectual structure and evolution patterns of archival information resource research in China
| Pages | 233-250 |
| Published date | 17 June 2019 |
| Date | 17 June 2019 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/LHT-08-2018-0101 |
| Author | Yaolin Zhou,Jingqiong Sun,Jiming Hu |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science |
Intellectual structure and evolution
patterns of archival information
resource research in China
Yaolin Zhou
Center for Studies of Information Resources,
Wuhan University, Wuhan, China and
School of Information Management, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
Jingqiong Sun
School of Information Management, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China, and
Jiming Hu
School of Information Management, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China and
Center for Studies of Information Resources, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to identify the leading topics and developmental trends of archival
information resource research in China by visualizing the intellectual structure and evolution patterns of
archival information resource research.
Design/methodology/approach –This study took China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) as the
data source and extracted keywords from relevant articles in archival information resource research as the
sample. First, the frequency and co-occurrence of keywords were calculated by using SCI2. Second, this study
analyzed the co-word network indicators by using Pajek. Then, topic community detection was conducted by
using a VOS viewer, as well as the visualization of intellectual structures. Next, this study developed a
graphical mapping of the evolution of research topics over time by using Cortext.
Findings –The research topics of archival information resources in China were unbalanced but distinct.
Researchers focus on the construction and utilization of archival information resource, which consist of five
evident research directions. The phenomena of fusion and differentiation coexist in research topic evolution.
There were both continuities of traditional research and innovations in emerging research. The archival
information resource research tended to be systematized and extended, reflecting the vertical and horizontal
extension of the research content.
Originality/value –Based on a large number of previous studies, this study adopted quantitative methods
to reveal the intellectual structure and evolution patterns of archival information resource research in China,
providing guidance for researchers and institutions to grasp research status and developmental trends.
Keywords China, Knowledge discovery, Information visualization, Archival information resource,
Evolution patterns, Intellectual structure
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
“Archival Information Resource”refers to information resources that are stored on archives
and archival information products in the form of texts, graphics, images, sounds,
animations and videos that are available for use (Yu, 2014). By studying the archival value
theory, more scholars in the archival community have started paying attention to the value
and function of archival information resources. Archival information resource research is
increasingly becoming the hotspot of archival science. Scholars in China have discussed the
definition and features of archival information resources (e.g. Yu, 2014), as well as how it
Library Hi Tech
Vol. 37 No. 2, 2019
pp. 233-250
© Emerald PublishingLimited
0737-8831
DOI 10.1108/LHT-08-2018-0101
Received 8 August 2018
Revised 15 December 2018
27 January 2019
Accepted 6 February 2019
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/0737-8831.htm
This work was supported by the Ministry of Education in China (MOE) Project of Humanities
and Social Sciences (Grant No. 18YJA870004); the Major Program of National Social Science
Foundation of China (Grant No. 17ZDA294); the Major Program of the Ministry of Education of China
(MOE) Humanities and Social Sciences Fund Project (Grant No. 16JJD870001).
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structure and
evolution
patterns
fulfills its value in the process of national economic society development (e.g. Feng, 2006).
Scholars in China also analyzed the opportunities and challenges in archival information
resource research on different aspects, such as “national transformation of digitization”(e.g.
An et al., 2013), “service-oriented government construction”(e.g. Hao and Ni, 2017),
“government information publicity”(e.g. Zhang and Zhang, 2009) and “information
technology development”(Zhou, 2011). Scholars abroad provided guidelines on the archival
value appraisal, digital organization and utilization of archival information resources from
the perspective of cultural heritage research (e.g. Chaudhry and Tan, 2005; Moore and
Robinson, 2017). However, scholars have applied computer technology and modern
communication technology in archival information resource research. The Australian
Records Continuum Program practices the theories of archival information resource
research (McKemmish, 2001), broadening the path toward the construction of realistic
archival information resources.
At present, archival information resource research is a rapidly developing field both in
research and practice. The content of archival information resource research is constantly
being refined. “Archival information resource planning,”“archival information resource
management,”“archival information resource construction”and “archival information
resource service”have been the foci of archival information resource research, while
“archival information resource development,”“archival information resource utilization,”
“archival information resource integration”and “archival information resource sharing”
have gained increasing attention from archival scholars (Liu and Zhou, 2011). The scope of
archival information resource research has also been extended. The public service theory
(e.g. Zhou and Wang, 2012), multi-agent synergy theory (e.g. Tan, 2014) and knowledge
management theory (Zhao and Zhou, 2015) have enriched the theoretical connotation of
archival information resource research.
While archival information resource research is accumulating a large number of research
achievements, there are difficulties for scholars in grasping the foci and evolution patterns
of archival information resource research accurately. To solve this problem, scholars need to
adopt new literature analysis methods to analyze the current status of archival information
resource research comprehensively. With the application of bibliometrics in archival science
research, statistical analysis methods, social network analysis methods and knowledge
maps methods provide researchers with new ways to objectively analyze research hotspots
(Li, Q.H., 2017; Li, X.M., 2017). This study revealed the intellectual structure, research
directions, and developmental trends of archival information resource research from the
perspective of the co-occurrence of keywords in related literature, vividly showing the
topics’associated structures and evolution patterns of archival information resource
research in China over time.
2. Literature review
2.1 The landscape of archival information resource research development
Levitan (1981) explained the relationship between archives and information resources
theoretically and regarded archives as a significant component of information resources.
In 1985, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council
proposed “vigorously developing archives information resources”at the policy level (Zhang,
2013). This initiative put archival information resource development on the historical course
of national modernization and promoted archival information resource development
research in China.
In the last decade, the rapid development of information technology has provided a new
impetus for archival information resource research. In the context of networks, research
topics such as the organization and integration of archival information resources have
become the new foci of archival science (e.g. Zhao, 2006; Zeng, 2010). With the development
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