Mapping the Knowledge Utilization Field: 1945 to 2004
Author Information
Author(s): Carole A Estabrooks, Linda Derksen, Connie Winther, John N Lavis, Shannon D Scott, Lars Wallin, Joanne Profetto-McGrath
Primary Institution: University of Alberta
Hypothesis
How has the intellectual structure of the knowledge utilization field evolved from 1945 to 2004?
Conclusion
The study reveals that the knowledge utilization field has grown significantly, with the emergence of evidence-based medicine as a new domain.
Supporting Evidence
- The knowledge utilization field has seen exponential growth since the Second World War.
- Evidence-based medicine emerged as a significant domain within knowledge utilization in the mid-1980s.
- Everett Rogers was identified as the dominant figure in the knowledge utilization field across all decades studied.
Takeaway
This study looks at how the field of knowledge utilization has changed over time, showing that it has grown and developed new areas like evidence-based medicine.
Methodology
The study used bibliometric analysis, specifically first author co-citation analysis, to trace the historical development of the knowledge utilization field.
Limitations
The study is limited by typical bibliometric issues such as database inclusiveness and potential inaccuracies in citation data.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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