The Vocational Guidance Research Database: a Scientometric Approach

Abstract

The scientometric study of scientific output through publications in specialised journals can- not be undertaken exclusively with the databases available today. For this reason, the objec- tive of this article is to introduce the Base de Datos de Investigación en Orientación Vocacional [Vocational Guidance Research Database], based on the use of scientometric in- dicators. The use of dynamic tables in the technical design of this database results in real-time updates. Moreover, the option of exporting data to other software programs enables researchers to ex- pand their field of study. This is complemented by a topic-based vocational guidance classifi- cation, allowing us to identify the fields that are most researched, and a vocational guidance glossary containing 245 terms in three languages (Spanish, English and French). Furthermore, we can use this database for teaching purposes, as an introduction to scientometric research. The flexibility of this database also makes possible an expansion to other areas and fields of psychology.