The Evolution of Influence Maximization Studies: A Scientometric Analysis

Recent decades have witnessed a surge of interest in the study of influence maximization from various directions. However, the area suffers from a lack of rigorous investigation. This research makes an effort to solve this problem by analyzing scientometric indicators based on publications indexed in the Scopus database between 2005 and 2022, and this study aims to shed light on this topic. According to the findings, the publishing rate in this area is on the rise. Further, the scholarly connections shown by this study are striking. China, the United States, Australia, and Singapore each contributed significantly to the research publication. The majority of influential authors in the field of influence maximization originate from China, and most collaboration has occurred between the people of these nations and those of countries like the United States and India. In terms of relevance and citations, Chen is the field’s preeminent author. The word “social networking,” a relatively new field of study in social network analysis, is the most popular. Using information and diffusion, the way a network disseminates data is clearly displayed, allowing us to find key players. This research aimed to give academics interested in studying impact maximization a bird’s-eye view of the available literature on the topic.