Research Weaving: Visualizing the Future of Research Synthesis

Abstract

We propose, and formalize, a new framework for research synthesis of both evidence and influence, named ‘research weaving’. It summarizes and visualizes information content, history, and networks among a collection of diverse publication types on any given topic. Research weaving achieves this feat by combining the power of two methodologies: systematic mapping and bibliometrics. Systematic mapping provides a snapshot of the current state of knowledge, identifying areas needing more research attention and those ready for full synthesis (e.g., using meta-analysis). Bibliometrics enables researchers to see how pieces of evidence are connected, revealing the structure and the evolution of a field. We explain how to become a ‘research weaver’, and discuss how research weaving may change the landscape of research synthesis.

A new ecosystem for evidence synthesis

“…Evidence synthesis communities will be supported with tools to facilitate the work of the community, including data visualization, and the digestion and interpretation of synthesis outcomes 12 . Scientists and the public alike will be able to access and assess the most current evidence within any topic.…”

“…Scientists and the public alike will be able to access and assess the most current evidence within any topic. A web-based synthesis platform will provide a way to connect researchers and interested public members, improving stakeholder engagement [12][13][14] .…”

Profiling Research on PFAS in Wildlife: Protocol of a Systematic Evidence Map and Bibliometric Analysis

“…With this work, we will create a body of information to complement the systematic map of Pelch et al [47], who aimed to synthesise the health effects of PFAS in people. In addition, following the research weaving approach that combines the synthesis of evidence and in uence [48], we will investigate the collaboration networks among authors and countries.…”

On the use of computer‐assistance to facilitate systematic mapping

“…Some of this information is easily identified through text analysis (e.g., using dictionary methods; Welbers et al, 2017), but some may be more challenging to identify and extract, for example, the context, study design and methods. Scientometric mapping —The integration of scholarly networks (who works with whom, who cites whom) and systematic mapping to facilitate computer‐assisted “research weaving” (analysis of the who as well as the what; Nakagawa et al, 2018) will allow for more efficient and comprehensive discovery of relevant research. Off‐the‐shelf classifiers —The establishment of public machine learning libraries (classifiers) of broad concepts (e.g., “developing nations”) for use in screening and coding that can be validated will facilitate rapid and comprehensive discovery and analysis of relevant evidence (e.g., Marshall et al, 2018).…”

“…Scientometric mapping —The integration of scholarly networks (who works with whom, who cites whom) and systematic mapping to facilitate computer‐assisted “research weaving” (analysis of the who as well as the what; Nakagawa et al, 2018) will allow for more efficient and comprehensive discovery of relevant research.…”