Examining the usage, citation, and diffusion patterns of bibliometric mapping software: A comparative study of three tools

Highlights：

• This paper conducts a content analysis of a sample of 481 English core journal articles using three bibliometric mapping software tools (CiteSpace, HistCite and VOSviewer) to reveal the predominant mention and citation practices.

• We employ several diffusion indicators (e.g., diffusion breadth and speed on the article, journal and domain levels) to provide insight into the influence and diffusion patterns of the three software tools.

• Researchers mention and cite the three software tools in diverse ways and some of them fail to provide a formal citation of the three software tools.

• Among the three software tools, VOSviewer is more frequently used than CiteSpace and HistCite.

• The three tools are adopted fastest and most frequently in library and information science research, and they are then gradually adopted in other areas of study, initially at a lower diffusion speed but afterward at a rapidly growing rate.