This study investigates the role of self-citation in the scientific production of Norway (1981-1996). More than 45,000 publications have been analysed. Using a three-year citation window we find that 36% of all citations represent author self-citations. However, this percentage is decreasing when citations are traced for longer periods. We find the highest share of self-citation among the least cited papers. There is a strong positive correlation between the number of self-citations and the number of authors of the publications. Still, only a minor part of the overall increase in citation rates that can be found for multi-authored papers is due to self-citations. Also, the share of self-citation shows significant variations among different scientific disciplines. The results are relevant for the discussion concerning use of citation indicators in research assessments.
%0 Journal Article
%1 aksnes2003macro
%A Aksnes, DagW.
%D 2003
%I Kluwer Academic Publishers
%J Scientometrics
%K citation self-citation study sys:read
%N 2
%P 235-246
%R 10.1023/A:1021919228368
%T A macro study of self-citation
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A%3A1021919228368
%V 56
%X This study investigates the role of self-citation in the scientific production of Norway (1981-1996). More than 45,000 publications have been analysed. Using a three-year citation window we find that 36% of all citations represent author self-citations. However, this percentage is decreasing when citations are traced for longer periods. We find the highest share of self-citation among the least cited papers. There is a strong positive correlation between the number of self-citations and the number of authors of the publications. Still, only a minor part of the overall increase in citation rates that can be found for multi-authored papers is due to self-citations. Also, the share of self-citation shows significant variations among different scientific disciplines. The results are relevant for the discussion concerning use of citation indicators in research assessments.
@article{aksnes2003macro,
abstract = {This study investigates the role of self-citation in the scientific production of Norway (1981-1996). More than 45,000 publications have been analysed. Using a three-year citation window we find that 36% of all citations represent author self-citations. However, this percentage is decreasing when citations are traced for longer periods. We find the highest share of self-citation among the least cited papers. There is a strong positive correlation between the number of self-citations and the number of authors of the publications. Still, only a minor part of the overall increase in citation rates that can be found for multi-authored papers is due to self-citations. Also, the share of self-citation shows significant variations among different scientific disciplines. The results are relevant for the discussion concerning use of citation indicators in research assessments.},
added-at = {2013-01-02T17:41:43.000+0100},
author = {Aksnes, DagW.},
biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/2324dcd3e5869bbebb06bd6b38c86b277/nosebrain},
description = {A macro study of self-citation - Springer},
doi = {10.1023/A:1021919228368},
interhash = {d929a33337bbbcc3b3bc1ebc2d1fe3d3},
intrahash = {324dcd3e5869bbebb06bd6b38c86b277},
issn = {0138-9130},
journal = {Scientometrics},
keywords = {citation self-citation study sys:read},
language = {English},
number = 2,
pages = {235-246},
publisher = {Kluwer Academic Publishers},
timestamp = {2013-01-02T17:41:43.000+0100},
title = {A macro study of self-citation},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A%3A1021919228368},
volume = 56,
year = 2003
}