Interdisciplinary patchwork: a bibliometric analysis of investor relations and financial communication

Purpose
The study aims to shed light on the interdisciplinarity of investor relations (IR) and financial communication. The paper builds on the assertion that the field is researched by various disciplines (e.g. communication and accounting) that collaborate but also remain disparate. It empirically assesses existing research on a macro level to determine how these influences shape the emergence and development of the field.

Design/methodology/approach
A bibliometric approach combining a quantitative analysis of bibliometric data and a co-citation analysis is used to examine (scientific) publications. A sample of 435 publications covering the period 1970–2023, derived from Scopus and Web of Science, is analyzed.

Findings
The study demonstrates the growing interest in the field of IR and financial communication over the years, especially in the last 2 decades. The analysis reveals a research field that is simultaneously dispersed and connected: it depicts the individual impact from different disciplines, which approach the field with their own foci while sharing an overlapping base.

Originality/value
Prior studies have already discussed claims of interdisciplinarity of IR and financial communication while mentioning a lack of interaction and collaboration; this study attempts to draw a bigger picture. Using bibliometric data, the study uncovers the composition and strength of the relevant disciplines as well as the development of the field with respect to contributing authors, essential sources, core topics, and citations.