Open reproducible scientometric research with Alexandria3k

2023/11/30 by Diomidis Spinellis · 1 voice
Computer Science · Decision Sciences · #Data Visualization and Analytics #Research Data Management Practices #Scientific Computing and Data Management

paper · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0294946

openalex publication_date 2023/11/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01

Abstract

Considerable scientific work involves locating, analyzing, systematizing, and synthesizing other publications, often with the help of online scientific publication databases and search engines. However, use of online sources suffers from a lack of repeatability and transparency, as well as from technical restrictions. Alexandria3k is a Python software package and an associated command-line tool that can populate embedded relational databases with slices from the complete set of several open publication metadata sets. These can then be employed for reproducible processing and analysis through versatile and performant queries. We demonstrate the software's utility by visualizing the evolution of publications in diverse scientific fields and relationships among them, by outlining scientometric facts associated with COVID-19 research, and by replicating commonly-used bibliometric measures and findings regarding scientific productivity, impact, and disruption.

Citations

• Generalized Gradient Approximation Made Simple
• Make — a program for maintaining computer programs
• Software survey: VOSviewer, a computer program for bibliometric mapping
• A Dynamic Network Measure of Technological Change
• Thousands of scientists publish a paper every five days
• Which academic search systems are suitable for systematic reviews or meta‐analyses? Evaluating retrieval qualities of Google Scholar, PubMed, and 26 other resources
• Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China
• Large-scale comparison of bibliographic data sources: Scopus, Web of Science, Dimensions, Crossref, and Microsoft Academic
• PRISMA 2020 explanation and elaboration: updated guidance and exemplars for reporting systematic reviews
• The evolving role of preprints in the dissemination of COVID-19 research and their impact on the science communication landscape
• Slowed canonical progress in large fields of science
• OpenAlex Snapshot
• Papers and patents are becoming less disruptive over time

Discussions

• The amazing rise of open publication data and hardware performance now allow us to conduct reproducible systematic literature reviews as well as bibliometric and scientometric studies on our desktop. [bsky, 0 points, 0 comments]