Using Scopus and OpenAlex APIs to retrieve bibliographic data for evidence synthesis. A procedure based on Bash and...

Area of Science:

• Bibliometrics
• Information Science
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Evidence synthesis relies heavily on comprehensive bibliographic data.
• Efficient retrieval of this data is crucial for systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
• Existing methods for data acquisition can be time-consuming and complex.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a practical guide and working code for interacting with Scopus and OpenAlex APIs.
• To facilitate the process of searching and retrieving bibliographic data for evidence synthesis.
• To offer a reusable resource for researchers conducting literature reviews.

Main Methods:

• Development of a code base using SQL (MySQL) and Unix Shell (Bash).
• Demonstration of API interaction for data retrieval from Scopus and OpenAlex.
• Methodology designed for portability across different operating systems.

Main Results:

• A functional code collection serving as both a tutorial and a practical tool.
• Successful retrieval of bibliographic data through Scopus and OpenAlex APIs.
• The developed procedure is adaptable for evidence synthesis in diverse research areas.

Conclusions:

• The presented code and methodology streamline bibliographic data acquisition for evidence synthesis.
• The Scopus and OpenAlex APIs offer powerful tools for research data retrieval.
• This work supports broader applications in bibliometric analysis and systematic reviews beyond its initial scope.