Litmaps for topic exploration

The type of writing I do requires that I identify topics of interest and then review the research relevant to that topic to combine with my knowledge to write content relevant to educational issues. My career has allowed me to witness the growth in tools for accomplishing this task. In the old days, the task was heavily based on using the reference sections of key publications to identify important older publications that should be reviewed. It was far easier to look back than forward. This changed with online services such as Research Rabbit, Google Scholar and similar services. These services provide the reference list from a given article, but also more recent articles that cite the targeted article.

Litmaps provides an interesting way to examine this same data. You begin the process with a seed map in which you identify an influential article and the service returns a visual display identifying cited articles and articles citing the seed. From there, it is possible to review the abstracts of articles from the map and explore connections among articles. The system saves searches so you can return to the information you have identified without having to find a way to export the information as you work with a topic over time.

The following is the display you first encounter with the option to propose a search seed.

One of the topics that interests me is the pro and con debates over whether reading and note taking should be conducted using a digital device or paper. One of the articles often cited when proposing that note-taking is best done with pen and paper was published in 2018. The title “The pen is mightier than the keyboard” conveys the orientation of the paper and sounds interesting when referencing this research area in the popular press. It is the type of source that makes a good starting point for Litmaps. In the following image, the seed article appears as a blue dot and links indicate earlier and later connections with this study,

Selecting one of the linked studies provides an update to the display. You see the abstract and other connections to the linked study.

Litmap is free for limited use and there is a lower rate for educational use. The pricing options are shown below.