Historical Origins of Information Behavior Research by Reference Publication Year Spectroscopy

Using a quantitative method named reference publication year spectroscopy (RPYS), this research tried to determine the historical roots of information behavior research. RPYS pave the way for determining the significant years and works in information behavior.

Using scientometric method, the initial data of this study, have been extracted from the Web of Science. Using RPYS software, the revised data were analyzed and visualized in Excel.

The distribution of cited references in information behavior revealed three peaks within 19th century. Moreover, our analysis identified 6 peaks between 1900 to 1969 in the field of information behavior, respectively in 1948, 1954, 1957, 1960, 1965, and 1967 has occurred.

Based on the study findings, it seems that information behavior research has been shaped intellectually by fields such as Psychology, quantitative and qualitative methodologies, etc. Additionally, it has been influenced by some theories and theoretical works.