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Toward a more precise definition of self-citation

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Abstract

The definition assigned to self-citations is nontrivial. This decision can affect research outputs in a number of ways. The current paper considers the self-citation definition used by the Web of Science, and compares this with an alternative definition, advanced in the present study, within the context of the work of an individual researcher. A discussion follows.

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Notes

  1. see: www.isiknowledge.com/wos.

  2. see: http://images.webofknowledge.com/WOKRS55B6/help/WOS/hp_citation_report_citing_articles_wo_selfcites.html.

  3. The statistics used in this paper were collected on February 17, 2012.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Policy, Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Stephen Carley & Jan Youtie

  2. Technology Policy and Assessment Center, Georgia Tech, Search Technology, Inc., Atlanta, GA, USA

    Alan L. Porter

  3. Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Jan Youtie

Authors
  1. Stephen Carley
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  2. Alan L. Porter
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  3. Jan Youtie
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Correspondence to Stephen Carley.

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Carley, S., Porter, A.L. & Youtie, J. Toward a more precise definition of self-citation. Scientometrics 94, 777–780 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-012-0745-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-012-0745-2

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