Representing the Scientific Genealogy Relations in the Textbooks of Knowledge and Information Science

As one of the oldest sciences, genealogy studies the family relationship of human beings and their generation sequences, and with a similar function in the scientific-academic environment, used as "scientific genealogy". Relationships in a dynasty include relative and non-relative relations. This research aims to investigate such relationship and identify its dimensions and features in order to redefine it in computerized lists.

The present study was conducted using a mixed approach, citation and survey analysis methods and the study instruments were checklist, interview, and questionnaire. The statistical population of the study consisted of 30 textbooks in the field of Knowledge and Information Science and 1452 citation records. All of the records were analyzed in the form of citation identification. Subsequently, the book identifications were confirmed by the authors during a semi-structured interview. In addition, the impact factor of each author from the cited records was determined. Then, based on the findings of the interview as well as the authors' resume analysis, various types of relative and non-relative relationships of the author with individuals were analyzed.

The results of the study demonstrated that the scientific relationships in the scientific family of authors’ textbooks are clearly detectable; the students rely on their professors for explanation and justification. Most citations are for the respect and appreciation of the professors, while most citations to students are for the background review. By linking these findings to the findings of impact factor, the reasons of citation due to individuals’ role in a scientific family can be understood. Similarly, the relationship of scientific family with the reasons of citation has also been significant. The citations have been mostly used in the introductions, definitions, and discussions that indicate the reliance on others to justify and provide the definitions and information. Study on the authors' status showed that the influence of famous people’s thoughts in the field of knowledge and information sciences is driven from their scientific position and acceptability, as well as their administrative positions in some cases.

The relative relationship had a significant role in the emergence of their ideas in textbooks. The findings of the impact factors indicated that the citation providers with the relative relationships were influenced by their scientific family.