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Theory of Citing

In: Handbook of Optimization in Complex Networks

Author

Listed:
  • M. V. Simkin

    (University of California)

  • V. P. Roychowdhury

    (University of California)

Abstract

We present empirical data on misprints in citations to 12 high-profile papers. The great majority of misprints are identical to misprints in articles that earlier cited the same paper. The distribution of the numbers of misprint repetitions follows a power law. We develop a stochastic model of the citation process, which explains these findings and shows that about 70–90% of scientific citations are copied from the lists of references used in other papers. Citation copying can explain not only why some misprints become popular, but also why some papers become highly cited. We show that a model where a scientist picks few random papers, cites them, and copies a fraction of their references accounts quantitatively for empirically observed distribution of citations.

Suggested Citation

  • M. V. Simkin & V. P. Roychowdhury, 2012. "Theory of Citing," Springer Optimization and Its Applications, in: My T. Thai & Panos M. Pardalos (ed.), Handbook of Optimization in Complex Networks, edition 1, chapter 0, pages 463-505, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:spochp:978-1-4614-0754-6_16
    DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-0754-6_16
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    Cited by:

    1. Libor Ansorge & Lada Stejskalová, 2023. "Citation Accuracy: A Case Study on Definition of the Grey Water Footprint," Publications, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, February.
    2. Christina-Ioanna Papadopoulou & Efstratios Loizou & Katerina Melfou & Fotios Chatzitheodoridis, 2021. "The Knowledge Based Agricultural Bioeconomy: A Bibliometric Network Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-15, October.

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