Abstract

Using visualization techniques based on social networks, this study aims to analyze stem cell research in Spain, as reflected in the Science Citation Index (SCI) database between 1997 and 2010 , divided into three sub-periods. The selected unit of analysis was the KeyWords Plus descriptors (KW+), the unit of measurement was their co-occurrence , and the Pajek and VOSviewer tools were used to generate and display the social networks. The results show two complementary images of research: the static structure, distinguishing between clinical and basic research, and the evolutionary dynamic, analysing both the most established and the emerging lines. The main contribution of this work is to present a methodology for the visualization and detection of the main r esearch lines over time, demonstrating its applicability and its predictability in scientific and geographic domains.