The Role of Social Sciences in the Study of Misinformation: A Bibliometric Analysis of Web of Science and Scopus Publications (2017-2022)

Abstract

This study examines the contribution of the Social Sciences to disinformation research. Using network analysis and bibliometrics with the Bibliometrix tool in R, we analyze academic publications in Scopus and Web of Science (WOS) to understand scholarly work on misinformation, disinformation, and fake news. We compare data from Scopus and WOS, explore research trends, identify influential authors, examine relevant journals, assess productive institutions and countries, analyze author keywords, and provide a brief analysis of highly cited articles. The findings reveal the scholarly landscape of disinformation research within the Social Sciences. The comparison of Scopus and WOS data highlights the coverage and representation of disinformation studies. Research trends indicate the field’s growth and acceptance through publication and citation rates. Influential authors are identified based on publication output and h-index. Key journals in the field are identified, and productive institutions and countries are assessed. The analysis of author keywords reveals central themes and topics within the discipline. In addition, the analysis of highly cited articles provides insights into the theoretical and methodological aspects that have received significant attention.