Decoding Digital Anthropology: A scopus-based bibliometric exploration
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63880/jlii.v1i2.17Keywords:
Digital Anthropology, Bibliometric Analysis, VOSviewer, Digital Ethnography, Research Collaboration Networks, Social Media StudiesAbstract
Purpose: The study aimed to conduct a bibliometric analysis of digital anthropology to map its intellectual landscape, identify core research trends, recognize influential scholars, and examine collaborative networks among researchers and countries. It sought to provide systematic insights into the growth and direction of this emerging interdisciplinary field.
Methodology: Data were collected from the Scopus database in July 2024 using a focused search strategy combining the terms digital and anthropology. The analysis was limited to English-language publications. Bibliometric techniques were applied using VOSviewer to examine citation patterns, bibliographic coupling, co-authorship networks, and keyword co-occurrence. These methods enabled visualization and interpretation of thematic structures and collaborative relationships within the field.
Findings: The findings indicate that research in digital anthropology is primarily led by scholars from the United Kingdom, the United States, and Italy, with growing contributions from India and other emerging economies. The study revealed extensive international collaboration, involving researchers from 20 to 50 countries. Core research themes highlight the intersection of digital technologies and anthropological inquiry, while underexplored areas include artificial intelligence, large-scale data analysis, and region-specific field-based studies.
Implications: The study provides valuable guidance for researchers entering the field of digital anthropology and offers insights for research institutions in setting funding priorities. It also emphasizes the need for comparative, inclusive, and methodologically diverse research to strengthen global perspectives and advance future developments in digital anthropology.
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Miller, D., & Horst, H. A. (2012). The digital and the human: A prospectus for digital anthropology. In H. A. Horst & D. Miller (Eds.), Digital anthropology (pp. 3-35). Berg.
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