Knowledge discovery of complex networks research literatures

Abstract

Complex network research literatures have increased rapidly over last decade, most remarkable in the past four years. This paper attempted to visualise the research outputs of complex network research in a global context for the purpose in knowledge discovery on the world research progress and quantitative analysing on current research publication trends. The scientometric methods and knowledge visualization technologies are employed with a focus on global production, main subject categories, core journals, the most productive countries, leading research institutes, publications' most used keywords as well as the most cited papers, and the knowledge basement. The keywords cluster analysis is used to trace the hot topics from the research literatures in this field. Research outputs descriptors suggested that the research in this domain has mainly focused on the dynamics, model and systems for complex networks. All the publications have been concentrated in two journals such asPhysical Review E andPhysica A. The USA is the leading country in complex network research field since it has both the world research centres and most of the top scientists worldwide. The research trend in complex network research are involved in complex routing strategy, models complex networks social as well as scale free percolation efficiency. Complex networks, dynamics, model and small-world networks are highly used keywords in the literatures from the main scientific database.