Scientometrics for the Humanities and Social Sciences

Scientometrics for the Humanities and Social Sciences is the first ever book on scientometrics that deals with the historical development of both quantitative and qualitative data analysis in scientometric studies. It focuses on its applicability in new and emerging areas of inquiry.

This important book presents the inherent potential for data mining and analysis of qualitative data in scientometrics. The author provides select cases of scientometric studies in the humanities and social sciences, explaining their research objectives, sources of data and methodologies. It illustrates how data can be gathered not only from prominent online databases and repositories, but also from journals that are not stored in these databases. With the support of specific examples, the book shows how data on demographic variables can be collected to supplement scientometric data.

The book deals with a research methodology which has an increasing applicability not only to the study of science, but also to the study of the disciplines in the humanities and social sciences.

R. Sooryamoorthy is Professor of Sociology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A scientist accredited to the National Research Foundation, he is the coauthor of Science in Participatory Development (1994) and author of Transforming Science in South Africa (2015) and Science, Policy and Development in Africa (2020).