Scientometric analysis of the forensic science literature for fibre as an evidence type: Access and data availability

Virginie Galais; Holly Fleming; Niamh Nic Daéid; Hervé Ménard

doi:10.1016/j.fsisyn.2022.100269

Scientometric analysis of the forensic science literature for fibre as an evidence type: Access and data availability

Forensic Sci Int Synerg. 2022 May 17:5:100269. doi: 10.1016/j.fsisyn.2022.100269. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Virginie Galais¹, Holly Fleming¹, Niamh Nic Daéid¹, Hervé Ménard¹

Affiliation

¹ Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 4HN, UK.

Abstract

The large volume of information available within citation databases has become a challenge to manage and distil in all areas of research. In this study, a scientometric approach has been applied to fibres as an evidence type using information contained in Scopus and Web of Science. A comparison was also made with the references listed in the INTERPOL International Forensic Science Managers Symposium Science (IFSMS) reports (2004-2019) where only a limited number of documents were common with the citation databases, illustrating the value of the IFSMS reports. Finally, this study also highlights that data availability and location are generally omitted in publications. The forensic science community has an opportunity to change this culture and lead the way in making their data available, aligning with the ideals of fairness, openness and transparency of the underpinning data upon which scientific developments are based.