Abstract
Rough set (RS) is a mathematical framework used to deal with incomplete and uncertain information. It has been widely used in decision analysis, data mining, artificial intelligence, economic management and many other fields. Up to now, there have been tens of thousands of research papers on this topic, and the area has made a rapid growth. In light of these factors, a comprehensive and systematic review of this area becomes essential. The purpose of this study is to present a coherent overview of the theory and applications of the RS, reveal its current research focal points, and identify future development trends. We conduct a thorough bibliometric review and perform co-occurrence and co-citation analysis. First, the fundamental characteristics, productive authors, preferred journals and leading countries in the field of RS are identified. Second, the co-citation and citation burst detection methods are used to explore research hotspot and trends. In light of the undertaken methodology, this study can offer tangible value to scholars in understanding the content structure and development process of the RS field.
•The general citation structure, the influential authors, journals, institutions and countries/territories in the area of rough sets are investigated.•The cooperation model and cooperative network between countries are presented.•The research hotspot and trends are explored through co-citation and citation burst detection.