Mapping research topics through word-reference co-occurrences

Mapping of science and technology can be done at different levels of aggregation, using a variety of methods. In this paper, we propose a method in which title words are used as indicators for the content of a research topic, and cited references are used as the context in which words get their meaning: co-occurrences of word-reference combinations. In this way we can use words without neglecting differences and changes in meaning. As we will show, the method has several advantages, such as high coverage of publications and the use of the same words in different contexts. Applying the method in information science produces knowledge maps that are an adequate representation of research topics in the context of the entire field.