Scientometrics
Volume/Issue:
Volume 89: Issue 1
The influence of effects and phenomena on citations: a comparative analysis of four citation perspectives
Authors:
Qiang Wu School of Management, University of Science and Technology of China, 96 Jinzhai Road, Hefei 230026, People's Republic of China
School of Information Studies, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, P.O. Box 413, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA

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and
Dietmar Wolfram School of Information Studies, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, P.O. Box 413, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA

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Pages:
245–258
Online Publication Date:
26 Jul 2011
Publication Date:
01 Oct 2011
Article Category:
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-011-0456-0
Keywords:
Citation analysis; Matthew effect; Scholarly communication
Restricted access

Abstract

This article defines different perspectives for citations and introduces four concepts: Self-expected Citations, Received Citations, Expected Citations, and Deserved Citations. When comparing permutations of these four classes of perspectives, there are up to 145 kinds of equality/inequality relations. From these numerous relations, we analyze the difference between the Matthew Effect and the Matthew Phenomenon. We provide a precise definition and point out that many previous empirical research studies on the Matthew Effect based on citations belong primarily to the Matthew Phenomenon, and not the true meaning of the Matthew Effect. Due to the difficulty in determining the Deserved Citations, the Matthew Effect is in itself difficult to measure, although it is commonly believed to influence citation counts. Furthermore, from the theoretical facts, we outline four new effects/phenomena: the Self-confidence Effect/Phenomenon, the Narcissus Effect/Phenomenon, the Other-confidence Effect/Phenomenon, and the Flattery Effect/Phenomenon, and we discuss additional influencing factors.

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Cover Scientometrics
Scientometrics
Print ISSN:
0138-9130
Online ISSN:
1588-2861

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Scientometrics
Language English
Size B5
Year of
Foundation		 1978
Volumes
per Year		 1
Issues
per Year		 12
Founder Akadémiai Kiadó
Founder's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
Publisher Akadémiai Kiadó
Springer Nature Switzerland AG
Publisher's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
CH-6330 Cham, Switzerland Gewerbestrasse 11.
Responsible
Publisher		 Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN 0138-9130 (Print)
ISSN 1588-2861 (Online)

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