Citation index

Citation Index

A citation index is a type of bibliographic database that allows users to easily locate articles that have cited a particular document. This tool is invaluable in the field of academic research as it helps researchers track the influence and impact of scholarly articles over time.

A graphical representation of citation indexes.

History

The concept of citation indexing was first introduced by Eugene Garfield in the 1950s. Garfield's work led to the creation of the Science Citation Index (SCI), which was first published in 1964. The SCI was revolutionary because it allowed researchers to see how often a particular article was cited by other works, providing a measure of its impact and relevance in the scientific community.

Functionality

Citation indexes work by listing articles and the references they cite. When a user searches for a particular article, the index provides a list of all subsequent articles that have cited it. This allows researchers to:

• Track the development of ideas and research over time.
• Identify key papers and authors in a specific field.
• Assess the impact of a particular work.

Types of Citation Indexes

There are several types of citation indexes, each serving different academic disciplines:

• Science Citation Index (SCI): Focuses on the natural sciences.
• Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI): Covers the social sciences.
• Arts and Humanities Citation Index (AHCI): Includes literature, arts, and humanities.

Modern Developments

With the advent of digital technology, citation indexes have become more sophisticated and accessible. Online platforms such as Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar provide comprehensive citation data and analytics tools. These platforms allow researchers to:

• Perform complex searches and analyses.
• Visualize citation networks and trends.
• Access citation metrics such as the h-index.

Importance in Academia

Citation indexes are crucial for:

• Evaluating the impact of research articles and journals.
• Supporting the peer review process.
• Informing funding and tenure decisions.

Related Pages

• Bibliometrics
• Impact factor
• h-index
• Academic publishing