Sustainable Energy Research Trend: A Bibliometric Analysis Using VOSviewer, RStudio Bibliometrix, and CiteSpace Software Tools
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Introduction
The 6 request questions must be organized in the methods section
Methods
the idea from lines 153-173 fits better in the introduction or in the discussion section
The authors must improve this section. there is no clarity on how to perform the search in WoS. Please add a step-by-step process for the searching and analysis of the data
Author Response
Dear Reviewer,
Thank you very much for sharing your valuable opinions and suggestions for the development of our study and an article that will contribute to the literature. The revisions we have made regarding the corrections you have mentioned in your report are given below.
- Reviewer advice: English language and style are fine/minör spell check required
Authors answer: Completed
- Reviewer advice: The 6 request question must be organized in the methods section
Authors answer: Your suggestion has been evaluated, but the research questions are left in the introduction so that the main setup and flow of the study are not disturbed. We would like to state that the purpose here is to ensure that the general purpose of the study is understandable when it is examined by the reader.
- Reviewer advice: The idea from lines 153-173 fits better in the introduction or in the discussion section
Authors answer: Completed
- Reviewer advice: The authors must improve this section (methods). There is no clarity on how to perform the search in WoS. Please add a step-by-step process for the searching and analysis of the data
Authors answer: Comleted
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
The authors analyzed publication trends related to sustainable energy (SE). Due to a lack of previous literature on research trends in SE, the topic of this research is appropriate for this journal. However, this paper suffers from major problems:
- It is easy for researchers who know how to use the tools mentioned in this study to generate such results as shown in the paper. No effort is required to answer the stated research questions.
-The analysis of this paper is too descriptive. Most of the analyzes shown in this paper are fairly easy to create.
-There is lack of discussion of the results of this study. It is evident that the authors did not think carefully about the implication of the results.
Author Response
Dear Reviewer,
Thank you very much for sharing your valuable opinions and suggestions for the development of our study and an article that will contribute to the literature. The revisions we have made regarding the corrections you have mentioned in your report are given below.
- Reviewer advice: English language and style are fine/minör spell check required
Authors answer: Completed
- Reviewer advice: The authors analyzed publication trends related to sustainable energy (SE). Due to a lack of previous literature on research trends in SE, the topic of this research is appropriate for this journal. However, this paper suffers from major problems:
- It is easy for researchers who know how to use the tools mentioned in this study to generate such results as shown in the paper. No effort is required to answer the stated research questions.
- The analysis of this paper is too descriptive. Most of the analyzes shown in this paper are fairly easy to create.
Authors answer: In this study, three different software tools that can be used in sciometrics research were used simultaneously. The aim here is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the studies in the literature on SE. Although it is thought that anyone who can use these software tools can easily perform these analyzes, researchers must first have knowledge and experience in the relevant subject in order to establish these analyzes and connections. It is thought that after this analysis study conducted using software tools, researchers interested in the field will contribute to future studies as they will provide faster access to the right information. it is also of great importance in terms of making an inventory of the issues related to SE. The realization of sciometrics studies with certain software has also attracted a lot of attention in the literature in recent years.
-There is lack of discussion of the results of this study. It is evident that the authors did not think carefully about the implication of the results.
Authors answer: Your suggestion has been carefully evaluated and the study has been enriched by making the necessary additions.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Dear authors,
the article is without doubt relevant for science and extremely interesting. However, there is some area for improvement. Please find my comments below:
· please clarify the specific aim of this study.
[Line 54-57] With this study, which aims to reveal the dimensions of the interdisciplinary SE concept, in the world literature, systematically revealing the findings would also contribute to revealing the new trends and future plans on SE.
[Line 58] in association with the aims of the study
· there is a problem with a bit too long and complicated/repetitive sentences, please simplify them not to lose the main idea (examples are given below).
“Because the orientation towards long-term SE systems necessitates the discussion of policy objectives and policy instruments from a more differentiated perspective, and the transition from an economy based on energy stocks to an economy based on energy flows requires a societal paradigm shift”
“Consideration of the issues pertinent to energy security among the resources reached as a result of the systematic literature review conducted within the scope of the study, indicates that demographic and political developments affect the publication trends.”
“The study of science, academic research, technologies, and innovation's quantitative traits and attributes is known as scientometrics. The statistical evaluation of publications, such as books, journals, or other study types, is the focus of bibliometrics, a field of science known as "scientometrics"”.
· I would argue that the name of the second step is correct in Figure 1, please change it (maybe to Data analysis?)
Figure 1. Data Collection Process (three steps: 1. Data collection; 2. Data; 3. Data visualization).
· What is the source of Figure 2?
· Please explain in the text why you chose the exact time period: "The current study conducts bibliometric analysis to examine research on SE over the period 1980- 2022".
· Figure 3 - I suggest omitting year 2023 from the graph
· Please incorporate section 4. Descriptive Bibliometric Analysis into section "Findings" because now it seems that the describing Table 1 only appears in line 345-350.
· It think that the term "The average publication years" (line 355) and later in the Table 2 "Years on average since publication" is not correct. Please change the term and use absolute amounts, e.g., 2018 instead of 2018,37.
· FYI, Ms. Dalia Štreimikienė is a woman. [Line 523] and later [Line 610-611]: The most prolific writer, Štreimikienė, Dalia, <...> while using the keywords sustainability, sustainable energy, sustainable development, energy transition most in his studies.
· In the introduction, you claim that <…> with this study, which aims to reveal the dimensions of the interdisciplinary SE concept…<…> contribute to revealing the new trends and future plans <…>”. However, I think that though you fully answered 6 research questions but the conclusion section certainly lacks more insights and interpretation regarding the main (and additional) aim.
For example, we see in Figure 6 that currently, a keyword with the strongest citation bursts is “storage”. Why so? What are the tendencies in the world? Also, as presented in Figure 4, we see such countries as Nigeria, Turkey, China or Bangladesh – again, what might be the reasons behind? Etc.. Hence, please strengthen your conclusion section or add a discussion section to improve your article.
Good luck!
Author Response
Dear Reviewer,
Thank you very much for sharing your valuable opinions and suggestions for the development of our study and an article that will contribute to the literature. The revisions we have made regarding the corrections you have mentioned in your report are given attached file.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 4 Report
This manuscript is about trends in sustainable energy research. The topic is interesting. I have some comments in detail listed below to help improving this article.
· The authors need to summarize the collected articles to shows the main aim and important findings related to sustainable energy in these articles in order to help the readers/researcher in the future.
· What are the limitations of this study? What would be the next step to improve this study?
· The authors need to explain what is the important to show the current and future trend in sustainable energy research?
Author Response
Dear Reviewer,
Thank you very much for sharing your valuable opinions and suggestions for the development of our study and an article that will contribute to the literature. The revisions we have made regarding the corrections you have mentioned in your report are given below.
Reviewer advice: This manuscript is about trends in sustainable energy research. The topic is interesting. I have some comments in detail listed below to help improving this article.
- The authors need to summarize the collected articles to shows the main aim and important findings related to sustainable energy in these articles in order to help the readers/researcher in the future.
Authors answer: The findings were re-evaluated and the comments and evaluations were enriched in line with your suggestion.
- What are the limitations of this study? What would be the next step to improve this study?
Authors answer: Scientific research has limitations due to its nature. In line with your valuable suggestion, the limitations of this study are detailed.
- The authors need to explain what is the important to show the current and future trend in sustainable energy research?
Author answer: In line with your valuable suggestion, the limitations of this study are detailed.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 5 Report
Although the analysis uses many tools, the contents of this review manuscript are very marginal. By using these various tools, the number of references is still lacking. The analysis is not good, and it only revolves around identifying groupings. This manuscript is far from a standard for publication because apart from being confusing, the analysis does not make it easy to determine future perspectives.
Author Response
Dear Reviewer,
Thank you very much for sharing your valuable opinions and suggestions for the development of our study and an article that will contribute to the literature. The revisions we have made regarding the corrections you have mentioned in your report are given below.
- Reviewer advice: English language and style are fine/minör spell check required
Authors answer: Completed
- Reviewer advice: Although the analysis uses many tools, the contents of this review manuscript are very marginal. By using these various tools, the number of references is still lacking. The analysis is not good, and it only revolves around identifying groupings. This manuscript is far from a standard for publication because apart from being confusing, the analysis does not make it easy to determine future perspectives.
Authors answer:
- The study was reconsidered and the most appropriate references were added to the study.
- Research results have been enriched by reinterpreting.
- Tables and figures have been reconsidered and arranged.
- Comments have been enriched to contribute to future studies.
- The limitations and original aspects of the study were evaluated again and additions were made to the study.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
This paper might be useful for some researchers interested in sustainable energy. From this point of view, I recommend this paper to be published in this journal.
Author Response
Dear Reviewer,
Thank you for your support during the development of our article. We wish you good luck in your work.
Best Regards
Reviewer 4 Report
The authors have addressed my comments
Author Response
Dear Reviewer,
Thank you for your support during the development of our article. We wish you good luck in your work.
Best Regards
Reviewer 5 Report
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Author Response
Dear Reviewer,
Thank you for your support during the development of our article. We wish you good luck in your work.
Best Regards
