Ask Us
Librarians are available to answer your questions. Click on the Ask Us bubble for FAQs and contact options (chat, email, text, phone).
Frequently Asked Questions
Top 5 Library FAQ's:
What is a Citation Search?
With a traditional citation search, you can discover how many times a particular publication has been cited and in what contexts. This may be helpful for:
- Tracking the use and evolution of a particular idea over time.
- Faculty members preparing a comprehensive list of their publications and how influential they have been when applying for promotion or tenure.
- Assessing the relative quality or merit of a publication. Publications cited more frequently are generally more impactful and may be considered more reliable.
Citation Searching: General Tips
- It is important to know that no single source will contain a complete list of citing articles. For example, Web of Science may show 10 citing articles for a publication while ScopusGoogle shows seven, with only partial overlap between the two. When doing a citation search, it is recommended you check at least the major three citation databases: Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar.
- Be aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the database you select. Points to consider are included under the Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar tabs of this guide.