Identification of the Driving Forces Affecting the Future of Research in the Field of Scientometrics in Iran based on the Characteristics of the Knowledge-Based Society

Since scientometrics has changed significantly over time, study of its changes can include a description of the past, an analysis of the current situation, and planning for the Future, leading to optimal policymaking and planning by organizations. The objective of the present study was to identify trends and driving forces affecting future research in the field of scientometrics in Iran based on the characteristics of the knowledge-based society. This study is applied that has conducted by literature review and survey. An expert panel was conducted with 15 experts in the field of Knowledge Science. Then, a researcher-made questionnaire was distributed among the experts. The study results showed that the driving forces affecting the Future of scientometrics can be divided into 14 general indicators (10 internal indicators including communication and interactions, experts, creativity and innovation, information technology, citation, methodology, index, language barriers, facilities, and specific problems of the field and 4 external indicators including sociology, economics, information technology and policymaking and management of the country’s higher education system) with 66 items. Given the undesired situation of trends of scientometrics in Iran, policymakers and managers of the country’s higher education system in Iran should consider the need to change the trends and the effective drivers of scientometrics because the lack of synchronization with the changes, the effectiveness, and applicability of research will reduce and faded over time.