3. How to Analyze Keywords with VosViewer

Step 1: Import Bibliographic Data
Start by importing your bibliographic data into VosViewer from sources like Web of Science, Scopus, or PubMed. Ensure that the dataset includes information such as article titles, authors, keywords, and publication years.

Step 2: Preprocess the Data
Clean the data by removing duplicates, standardizing keywords (if necessary), and eliminating any irrelevant or noise-causing elements. This step ensures data quality and enhances the accuracy of keyword analysis.

Step 3: Generate a Keyword Co-Occurrence Matrix
Using VosViewer, create a keyword co-occurrence matrix. This matrix captures the relationships between keywords based on their co-occurrence within articles. It helps identify patterns, themes, and associations between keywords.

Step 4: Visualize the Keyword Network
Visualize the keyword network using VosViewer's network visualization capabilities. The network will display nodes representing keywords and edges connecting co-occurring keywords. The size, color, and layout of the nodes can be customized to highlight important aspects.

Step 5: Analyze Network Metrics
Utilize VosViewer's network analysis functions to extract meaningful insights from the keyword network. Explore various network metrics such as centrality measures (e.g., betweenness centrality) and community detection algorithms to identify influential keywords and keyword clusters.

Step 6: Identify Key Keywords and Themes
Based on the network analysis results, identify key keywords and themes within the dataset. Look for central keywords with high centrality scores or keywords belonging to closely connected clusters. These keywords represent important topics or trends in the literature.

Step 7: Perform Keyword Frequency Analysis
Conduct a keyword frequency analysis using VosViewer to determine the prevalence of specific keywords within the dataset. This analysis helps identify the most frequently occurring and impactful keywords, providing insights into the focus of the research.

Step 8: Explore Keyword Evolution Over Time
If your dataset includes publication years, examine the evolution of keywords over time using VosViewer's temporal analysis features. This analysis reveals emerging or declining research topics and allows for a longitudinal perspective on keyword usage.

Step 9: Export and Present Findings
Export the visualizations, network metrics, and keyword analysis results from VosViewer. Use these outputs to create informative visuals and present your findings in a clear and engaging manner.