Table 10

Strategic interpretation of thematic map quadrants

QuadrantCentrality (inter-cluster ties)Density (intra-cluster ties)Strategic interpretation
I. Motor themesHighHighWell-developed and crucial: The foundation of the field; high internal coherence and strong ties to other topics
II. Niche themesLowHighHighly specialized: Coherent and mature themes, but isolated from the main research flow; specialized focus
III. Emerging/basic themesLowLowNew or foundational: Lack both internal coherence and strong external ties; topics are either too new or too broad
IV. Declining/specialized themesHighLowBridge/transition themes: High external relevance but lack recent internal development; often act as bridges between motor and emerging themes
Source(s): Callon et al. (1991), Cobo et al. (2011), Aria and Cuccurullo (2017) 

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