A Comparative Study between the Scientific Map of Iran and Global Scientific Map to Identify the Interdisciplinary Fields

Background and aim: The aim of this study was to understand, acknowledge and assess the scientific outputs in order to compare the scientific map of Iran with the global scientific map so that we could identify the interdisciplinary fields and make better decisions and policies in launching new fields of study. Material and methods: This applied research is scientometric in terms of approach and descriptive research in terms of data collection. Statistical population was all published articles of Iranian researchers, indexed in the Web of Science from 2005 to 2015. Data analysis and scientific mapping were performed using Excel, Bibexcel, VOSviewer and Pajek. Findings: Drawing a map of Iranian scientific outputs indicated that the most scientific outputs were in the majors of Electronics Engineering (21614 cases). The highest degree of Iranian interdisciplinary scientific outputs was related to the fields of Electronics and Chemical Engineering, Mathematics, Mechanics, Physics and Interdisciplinary Math. The majors of Electronics Engineering, Energy and Fuels and Chemical Engineering are the poles of interdisciplinary fields in Iran as well as the majors of Computer Sciences and Biochemistry have the betweenness centrality among other interdisciplinary fields. Conclusion: Comparing the rate of Iranian scientific outputs with that of global outputs has shown that Iran is one of the fastest growing countries in the world but is poor in terms of interdisciplinary studies. Identifying these areas in this study can help to make a better policy for maintaining and enhancing them