K-n\'ucleo: Una herramienta para detectar la estructura conceptual de los campos de investigaci\'on. El caso pr\'actico de la Altmetr\'ia

TL;DR

This paper applies k-core decomposition to analyze the evolving conceptual structure of the Altmetrics research field through keyword network analysis, revealing hierarchical shells that represent different levels of research development.

Contribution

It introduces a novel application of k-core decomposition to visualize and understand the hierarchical conceptual structure of a research field using keyword networks.

Findings

Identified five hierarchical shells in the Altmetrics field.

Revealed the core concepts forming the knowledge base.

Mapped the evolution and specialization of research concepts.

Abstract

In Social Network Analysis (SNA), k-core decomposition is used to detect hierarchical shells in networks. The application of the K-core decomposition to a network of keywords allows us to represent the conceptual structure of a research field. The objective of this work was to propose the application of k-core decomposition to show the evolution of the conceptual structure of the Altmetrics research field. The methodology was developed in several phases: data collection, keyword selection, elaboration of a keyword co-occurrence matrix, generation of a keyword network, k-core decomposition and visualization of the hierarchical structure. The result was the detection of five differentiated shells. A core shell with basic, densely interconnected concepts that formed the knowledge base of the field. An intermediate shell with mediating concepts that showed the evolution of knowledge in the field. A lateral shell with concepts that indicated the specialization of the research field. A border shell with peripheral and isolated concepts, which represented the conceptual fronts in development. In conclusion, the hierarchical decomposition of the keyword network achieved a deeper understanding of the conceptual structure of the research field