Research on Oral Archives in China based on Bibliometrics and knowledge mapping

Abstract

Using journal articles indexed in CNKI as the data source, this study carries out a bibliometric and visualization analysis to systematically explore the current research status, research hotspots, and developmental trends of oral archives studies in China. The results show that oral archives research in China began in 1981, with research attention gradually increasing over time, reaching a peak in 2019, and subsequently entering a stage of relatively stable development. Deng Jun and Peng Yan are identified as core authors in this research field. The development of oral archives research can be divided into five stages: the nascent stage, the initiation stage, the rapid development stage, the mature stage, and the stable development stage. Major research hotspots include the digital protection of ethnic minority cultures, the construction of local memory collections in libraries, the development of intangible cultural heritage archival resources, the development and value expansion of red archives, and the exploration of social memory and the functions of university archives, reflecting the complexity and multidimensional characteristics of oral archives research. Accordingly, this study proposes that future research on oral archives in China can be advanced along three main directions: the improvement and deepening of theoretical development, the in-depth exploration of social functions and historical value, and the development and dissemination of oral archives in the era of digital and intelligent technologies.