Application and Reflection on Research Methods in the Field of Digital Humanities in China

Zhang Xu; Liu Fangyu; Mao Ning; Li Xingyue

doi:10.13266/j.issn.0252-3116.2025.16.012

Library and Information Service >

2025 , Vol. 69 >Issue 16: 139 - 150

DOI: https://doi.org/10.13266/j.issn.0252-3116.2025.16.012

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Application and Reflection on Research Methods in the Field of Digital Humanities in China

Zhang Xu ,
Liu Fangyu ,
Mao Ning ,
Li Xingyue

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1 School of Information Resource Management, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872;
2 College of Humanities, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826;
3 School of Business and Management, Jilin University, Changchun 130012;
4 School of Management, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387

Zhang Xu, doctoral candidate; Liu Fangyu, master’s candidate; Mao Ning, master’s candidate, corresponding author, E-mail:maoning808@ruc.edu.cn;Li Xingyue, lecturer, master’s supervisor.

Received date: 2024-10-14

Revised date: 2025-02-11

Online published: 2025-08-01

Supported by

This work is supported by the major project of Science Research Fund of Renmin University of China, titled “Construction of Autonomous Archival Science Knowledge System in China” (Grant No. 24XNN012) and the Outstanding Innovative Talents Cultivation Funded Programs 2024 of Renmin University of China.

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Abstract

[Purpose/Significance] Summarizing and reflecting on the current status of research methods in the field of digital humanities in China can deeply promote the innovative development of digital humanities methodology. [Method/Process] Through descriptive statistical analysis, LDA model topic analysis, content analysis, network and literature survey methods, combined with relevant research cases, this paper analyzed 1409 relevant articles on digital humanities topics published in core journals from CNKI and manually cross screened. It summarized the application status and characteristic rules of research methods in the field of digital humanities in China, and provided a critical reflection. [Result/Conclusion] The study finds that digital humanities research in China prefers speculative research, exhibits certain temporal variability, relies on a single research method, and features a rich combination of mixed research methods. And there are differences in the thematic content of different research methods. Overall, at present, the application of research methods in the field of digital humanities in China presents characteristics of diversity, pertinence, and hybridization. In view of this, it proposes that research methods in the field of digital humanities in China can be standardized based on the conceptual, operational, normative, and ethical layers, providing methodological reference and guidance for its rigorous and scientific research in the future research.

Key words： digital humanities; research methods; interdisciplinarity; literature review

Cite this article

Zhang Xu , Liu Fangyu , Mao Ning , Li Xingyue . Application and Reflection on Research Methods in the Field of Digital Humanities in China[J]. Library and Information Service, 2025 , 69(16) : 139 -150 . DOI: 10.13266/j.issn.0252-3116.2025.16.012

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