- The paper presents a comprehensive synthesis of citation practices by dividing the process into the cited document, citation process, and citing document.
- It employs a structured methodology to analyze document features and decision rules that influence citation selection and rhetorical strategies.
- The paper highlights implications for bibliometric evaluations and suggests future research avenues using emerging metrics like altmetrics.
Conceptual Overview of the Citation Process
Introduction
The paper "Core Elements in the Process of Citing Publications: A Conceptual Overview of the Literature" (1707.02283) provides a comprehensive synthesis of the extant literature on the mechanisms and theories underlying the practice of citing scholarly documents. Through a structured approach dividing the citation process into three core components—the cited document, the citation process itself, and the citing document—it elucidates multiple theoretical perspectives and empirical findings that have emerged over recent decades. This paper aims to serve as a foundational reference for both understanding citation practices and applying these insights within the field of research evaluation.
Theoretical Foundations of Citing
The study acknowledges the predominance of normative and social-constructivist theories in explaining citing behaviors. The normative theory, originated by Merton, posits that citations are a reward mechanism reflecting peer recognition for intellectual contributions. In contrast, social-constructivist perspectives, like those of Gilbert, view citations as rhetorical devices employed for persuasion. The discourse is enriched by Nicolaisen's evolutionarily inspired handicap principle, suggesting that citation behavior encompasses elements of honesty and strategic deception. Notably, Luukkonen highlights the overlooked Latourian perspective, which contests normative notions by likening citations to knowledge claim supports.
Core Elements in the Citation Process
Cited Document
Empirical evidence reviewed in the paper indicates that authors assess potential citations based on document features such as title, abstract, topicality, and perceived quality. Document accessibility and citation history significantly influence selection, with highly cited documents often gaining further citations through accumulative advantage dynamics. The study underscores the role of document orientation, quality, and the prominence of journal placement in determining whether a document is cited.
Citation Process
The transition from document selection to citation is articulated through decision frameworks and motivational analyses. Decision rules — including elimination, dominance, and scarcity — reflect the criteria authors use to navigate extensive literature. Citing motivations are multi-faceted and can include homage, persuasion, affirmation, or critique, among others. The paper systematically catalogues these reasons, drawing from foundational work by Garfield and others.
Citing Document
The characteristics of the citing document itself—ranging from its type and disciplinary context to authorial intent—influence citation density and distribution. Citations are found to concentrate at particular sections within papers, reflecting the nuanced reasons and rhetorical strategies employed by authors. Co-authorship and self-citation dynamics are particularly noted for their quantitative impact on citation metrics.
Implications and Future Research
The conceptual framework discussed in the paper provides critical insights for application in bibliometric evaluations. By offering an alternative to the quantitative appraisal of citation counts, it advocates for a richer, value-based understanding of citations — considering epistemic and functional roles of citing behavior. Furthermore, the paper suggests prospective research avenues focusing on overlooked aspects of the citing documents and proposes leveraging new data sources like altmetrics to enhance our understanding of citation practices.
Conclusion
By synthesizing diverse theoretical and empirical strands, the paper "Core Elements in the Process of Citing Publications" presents a robust framework for understanding the intricate processes of scholarly citations. It challenges traditional paradigms and highlights the complex interplay of factors that guide citation behaviors. This work not only elucidates current citation practices but also offers pathways for enriching future research and evaluation methodologies in scientometrics.
