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Weak evidence for determinants of citation frequency in ecological articles

Author

Listed:
  • André Andrian Padial

    (Universidade Federal de Goiás
    Ciência e Tecnologia de Mato Grosso do Sul)

  • João Carlos Nabout

    (Universidade Federal de Goiás)

  • Tadeu Siqueira

    (Universidade Federal de Goiás
    Universidade Federal de São Carlos)

  • Luis Mauricio Bini

    (Universidade Federal de Goiás)

  • José Alexandre Felizola Diniz-Filho

    (Universidade Federal de Goiás)

Abstract

Citation frequency has been considered a biased surrogate of publication merit. However, previous studies on this subject were based on small sample sizes and were entirely based on null-hypothesis significance testing. Here we evaluated the relative effects of different predictors on citation frequency of ecological articles using an information theory framework designed to evaluate multiple competing hypotheses. Supposed predictors of citation frequency (e.g., number of authors, length of articles) accounted for a low fraction of the total variation. We argue that biases concerning citation are minor in ecology and further studies that attempt to quantify the scientific relevance of an article, aiming to make further relationships with citation, are needed to advance our understanding of why an article is cited.

Suggested Citation

  • André Andrian Padial & João Carlos Nabout & Tadeu Siqueira & Luis Mauricio Bini & José Alexandre Felizola Diniz-Filho, 2010. "Weak evidence for determinants of citation frequency in ecological articles," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 85(1), pages 1-12, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:85:y:2010:i:1:d:10.1007_s11192-010-0231-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-010-0231-7
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