Citizen science as a knowledge domain: a comparative study of seven search strategies in bibliometric studies

Purpose Citizen science (CS) has established itself as an expanding field of interdisciplinary research, although there is great heterogeneity in terms of its definition and representation as a domain of knowledge. Bibliometric studies constitute a key tool for analysing its development and current status, but methodological diversity (particularly with regard to the selection of descriptors and search strategies) makes it difficult to obtain a global vision. This paper analyses the strategies of seven bibliometric studies of CS, with the objective of evaluating the effectiveness of information retrieval, similarities among the data sets obtained and the impact of the descriptors used. Design/methodology/approach This has entailed reconstructing and applying the seven strategies in the Web of Science, using articles published between 2020 and 2024. Retrieval indicators (contribution ratio, unique contribution and overlapping) were compared, along with subject distribution as per OECD classification, and the efficacy of the descriptors included in each strategy. Findings A total of 9,209 unique records was obtained. Six of the seven strategies retrieved a comparable volume of records, but the coincidence between them was reduced; as demonstrated by the low number of overlaps identified. Notable heterogeneity was furthermore observed in the descriptors used by the different strategies, thereby reflecting a lack of consensus in the terminological representation of this domain. Descriptor selection decisively conditions the representation of CS in bibliometric studies. There is a need to develop controlled vocabularies and more-inclusive search approaches that ensure a multidimensional and balanced view of this interdisciplinary domain. Originality/value The study provides a systematic, comparative analysis of existing bibliometric strategies in CS. It highlights the influence of methodological and terminological decisions on the construction of a knowledge domain.