Collaboration and term usage dynamics in agricultural buffer strip research: A research weaving protocol

Research weaving is an approach that combines systematic mapping methods with bibliometric and scientometric analyses, shedding light on how research in a systematic map is connected or disconnected. Given its novelty, few examples exist that demonstrate methods for research weaving or highlight its value in the evidence synthesis context. Here, we seek to fill this gap by applying a research weaving analysis to a previously published systematic map on the roles of buffer strips in agricultural fields. This work identified a lack of studies addressing multifunctional roles of buffer strips and a remarkable array of terminology used by researchers to describe buffer strips. Using network visualization, such as co‐authorship and bibliographic coupling networks, as well as content and text analyses, we aim to build on these findings addressing questions related to collaboration, disciplinary contributions and citation and term usage patterns. As a result of this work, we aim to provide workflows, tools, and recommendations for the application of research weaving across a wide range of evidence maps in any domain. We will discuss the unique challenges of conducting bibliometric analysis in an evidence synthesis context and will propose solutions to address these challenges.