Bibliometrics and urban knowledge transfer

This paper demonstrates the potential of bibliometric analysis in the context of urban studies. After a brief discussion of the measurement of knowledge production, we provide an analysis of how the field of urban studies is constructed. We do this in three contexts: first, in the narrowly defined population of journals that constitutes the Thomson Reuters classification of urban studies; second, in the larger population of journals deemed to be within the social and behavioral sciences; and third, in a subset of the applied sciences. We find that, by using keyword analysis, it is possible to identify three distinct spheres of ‘urban knowledge’ that contain some overlap but also significant differences. We explore the significance of that for the development of urban studies.

► Demonstrates the value of bibliometrics using an analysis of urban research.
► Shows the differences between papers with urban content in different fields, especially the social and the applied sciences.
► Points out the impact of Chinese urban scholarship in the field of urban studies.