Dynamics of a scientific field analysed by co-subfield structures

This paper discusses the possibility to represent scientific development by second-order networks in different modalities. In particular, a specific modality structured by subfield-to-subfield relations is presented. By constructing such co-subfield maps for successive periods of time, we were able to describe the changing subfield relations within the field of chemical engineering. In this way, dynamical processes in the development of a field as a whole can be revealed. Advantages and disavantages as compared to co-citation and co-word mapping techniques are discussed and the importance of developing combined techniques is stressed.