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Citation Searching  Tags: citation_searching citation_tracking journal metrics web_of_science  

This guide contains information about citation searching and citation tracking, which is a unique way of searching that gives you access to the network of published works in your field.
Last update: Sep 08th, 2009 URL: http://libguides.library.uwa.edu.au/citation_searching  Print Guide  RSS Updates

Introduction            Print Page
  
 

Introduction

"The power of citation searching lies in the capacity to take a seminal article and uncover who the author was influenced by (who was cited) and go forward in time to discover how that seminal research affected newer works (who is citing it)."

(Tenopir, 2001)

Citation searching is a unique approach to finding related works and it complements other search strategies. If you have a particular key reference (journal article, book, conference paper etc.), citation searching will permit you to find articles published at a later date which cite that reference.

Moving from a known reference to related works is an excellent way to follow the full range of scholarly discussion on a given issue. From one document you could access dozens of related works, which could lead to even more related works. Citation searching gives you access to the network of published works in your field.

 

Follow the research trail - example

Example of a research trail

You will often find related works when you follow a research trail because works linked in this way share common themes. Follow a research trail forward (examine where cited), backward (examine its reference list), and sideways.

 
 

Benefits

"These days, savvy searching increasingly means citation searching"
(Jacsó, 2004)
  • Follow a research trail forward, backward, or sideways
  • Follow the pace and direction of research trends
  • Find relevant results unobtainable by any other method
  • Find works more broadly related to your topic
  • Find refutations, criticism, corrections, and retractions of published works
  • See who is citing your work
 

Reference

Jacsó, P. (2004). Savvy searching citation searching. Online Information Review, 28(6), pp 454-460. Accessed 7 August 2009 from: http://www.jacso.info/PDFs/jacso-citation-searching.pdf

Tenopir, C. (2001). Online databases - the power of citation searching. Library Journal.com. Accessed 7 August 2009 from: http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA178212.html

 
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