The Status of Human-Machine Communication Research: A Decade of Publication Trends Across Top-Ranking Journals

Abstract

This study explores the trends in Human-Machine Communication (HMC) scholarship in the past decade. We examined 444 peer-reviewed empirical studies published between 2010 and 2021 across journals with highest impact factor according to Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI). Through a systematic review, we looked at theoretical frameworks, methodological approaches, studied technologies, funding sources, and contributing countries in HMC studies. Using an LDA topic modeling on article abstracts, we further explore the top topic composition in the field and topic distribution across the journals in the past decade. Our analysis revealed diversity among contributing countries. The United States-led studies saw the highest share in HMC research, followed by Asia and Europe. Funding saw a dominant contribution from government and university. A diversity in thematic focus was observed with some topics' dominance among domain-specific journals. Significant differences among journals in terms of theory, method, investigated technology and contributing disciplinary affiliation were also found.