Self-citation represents one of the most controversial metrics in the field of academic publishing. Why? On the one hand, it is a useful tool for researchers, allowing them to retrospectively analyze their research and improve their scientific metrics. However, on the other hand, self-citation is often perceived as an artificial "fudging" of numbers, and if it is overused, there is a risk of exclusion from important databases.
So let's take a look at what self-citation is, how it is perceived in the scientometric community, and how to use it without putting your reputation at risk.
Definition of self-citation
Self-citation is the use of references to one's own work by an author or scientific publication. This is usually expressed as a percentage and is measured as the proportion of citations of one's own work in scientific publications. Although self-citation is not considered a violation, certain limits should be adhered to. A self-citation rate of 12% is considered the benchmark, but there are exceptions for narrow areas of research.
Problems with self-citation
The problem is that researchers can abuse this practice. Uncontrolled self-citation can lead to deviation from the quality standards of scientific publishing, reduce the credibility of the researcher, and even lead to exclusion from scientometric databases.
Tips for using self-citation
Citing your own work is possible and even recommended, but with some rules:
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Format citations according to the rules of citation.
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Evaluate the value of each citation before including it in your paper.
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Establish a reasonable self-citation percentage for your topic and field.
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Examine the target journal's self-citation policy.
What should you keep in mind about the self-citation rate of scientific journals?
When selecting a journal for publication, it is necessary to take into account not only the self-citation rate, but also to conduct a comparative analysis with other publications in the subject area. A high level of self-citation may cause exclusion from the Scopus database. Analyzing self-citation rates on partner sites such as CWTS Journal Indicators, Scimago Journal & Country Rank and Citations Report allows you to make informed decisions when choosing a journal for publication.
In their work, Scientific Publications specialists always give a special place to the concept of "self-citation". This applies to the process of working with author profiles in Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar, providing recommendations and revisions for scientific articles, selecting journals for publication.
Assessment of self-citation rates is only a small part of the complex process of providing scientific publishing services. For each project we cooperate with a large number of specialists, experts in the fields of scientometrics, linguistics, analytics, native speakers and specialists in specific fields of knowledge. We are maximally interested in the successful realization of your scientific goals. To get advice from our experts, leave your contact details and we will get back to you as soon as possible!
