Comparison of self-citation patterns in WoS and Scopus databases based on national scientific production in Slovenia (1996–2020)

Gordana Budimir (), Sophia Rahimeh (), Sameh Tamimi () and Primož Južnič ()
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Gordana Budimir: University of Ljubljana
Sophia Rahimeh: Texas A&M University
Sameh Tamimi: Wichita State University
Primož Južnič: University of Ljubljana

Scientometrics, 2021, vol. 126, issue 3, No 15, 2249-2267

Abstract: Abstract Comparative studies of Web of Science and Scopus databases relate mainly to journal coverage and citation indicators. The aim of this study is to compare self-citation patterns in these databases. 25 years of scientific production (1996–2020) in Slovenia was analyzed. To offset limitations and errors of deriving data directly from databases, we used the COBISS/SciMet portal, which systematically collects records of citations with various authors identifiers for the total national scientific production. Both databases were harmonized according to the Frascati/OECD classification scheme of research fields. Self-citations were determined by comparing author identifiers rather than their names. Scopus shows better results in self-citation counts. This is mainly due to its higher coverage of local academic journals published in Slovenia and other regional journals, mostly in Humanities, where a fifth of all documents received about 3% more self-citations. In Engineering & Technology and Social Sciences, about 4% and 3% of all documents received approximately 2% more self-citations. However, these differences cause less than 3% more self-citations per researchers and two databases did not substantially differ in the relative citation ranking of researchers. Also, similar patterns of faster ageing of self-citations, rather than citations, were found in both databases, indicating a similar diminishing impact of self-citations on citations over time for all fields.

Keywords: WoS; Scopus; Self-citations; Citations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1007/s11192-021-03862-w

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