A new citation concept: Triangular citation in the literature

Yunmei Liu, Liu Yang and Min Chen

Journal of Informetrics, 2021, vol. 15, issue 2

Abstract: This paper introduces the concept of triangular citation that combines direct citation, co-citation and bibliographic coupling, and defines three kinds of literature used in triangular citation, namely, original Literature A, intermediary Literature B and following Literature C. Taking citation data from the CNKI database as the experimental sample, it was found that there are triangular citations in the actual citation network, with a high coverage rate. Additionally, the authors analyzed the triangular citation sample data from the different perspectives of reference time, literature type, impact factor, interdisciplinary citation, and the author’s self-citation, thereby finding the external characteristics of literature and internal trends of citation in the triangular citation. Additionally, it was concluded that the literature between A and C has an “indirect citation” mechanism. The citation characteristics of the two, i.e., A and C, are different from the direct citation relationship characteristics of A and B and B and C. The triangular citation proposed in this paper provides a new research perspective for bibliometrics, and it can be used to explore hidden literature relationships, citation mechanisms and citation motivations.

Keywords: Literature citation; Triangular citation; Reference time; Impact factor; Interdisciplinary; Author self-citation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:infome:v:15:y:2021:i:2:s1751157721000122

DOI: 10.1016/j.joi.2021.101141

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