Comparison of journal and top publisher self-citation rates in COVID-19 research.
<h4>Introduction</h4>Journal self-citation contributes to the overall citation count of a journal and to some metrics like the impact factor. However, little is known about the extent of journal self-citations in COVID-19 research. This study aimed to determine the journal self-citations...
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| Format: | Article |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2024-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0314976 |
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| _version_ | 1846129434791247872 |
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| author | Alvaro Quincho-Lopez |
| author_facet | Alvaro Quincho-Lopez |
| author_sort | Alvaro Quincho-Lopez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Introduction</h4>Journal self-citation contributes to the overall citation count of a journal and to some metrics like the impact factor. However, little is known about the extent of journal self-citations in COVID-19 research. This study aimed to determine the journal self-citations in COVID-19 research and to compare them according to the type of publication and publisher.<h4>Methods</h4>Data in COVID-19 research extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection 2020-2023 was collected and further analyzed with InCites. The journals with the highest self-citation rates and self-citation per publication were identified. Statistical comparisons were made according to the type of publication and publishers, as well as with other major infectious diseases.<h4>Results</h4>The median self-citation rate was 4.0% (IQR 0-11.7%), and the median journal self-citation rate was 5.9% (IQR 0-12.5%). 1,859 journals (13% of total coverage) had self-citation rates at or above 20%, meaning that more than one in five references are journal self-citations. There was a positive and statistically significant correlation of self-citations with the other indicators, including number of publications, citations, and self-citations per publication (p<0.001). Editorial materials contributed more to journal SC with a median self-citation rate of 5%, which was statistically higher than other documents such as articles, letters or reviews (p<0.001). Among the top twelve publishers, the Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute had a median self-citation rate of 8.33% and was statistically higher than the rest (p<0.001). Self-citation rates for COVID-19 were lower than tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, but self-citations per publication of these diseases were statistically lower than those for COVID-19 (p<0.001).<h4>Conclusion</h4>Some journals from the Web of Science Core Collection displayed exorbitant journal self-citation patterns during the period 2020-2023. Approximately, one in every five paper references in COVID-19 is a journal self-citation. Types of publication such as editorials engage in this practice more frequently than others, suggesting that in COVID-19 research, self-citing non-citable items could potentially contribute to inflate journal impact factors during the pandemic. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f707043c34b44c1a832aab38e1827c85 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj-art-f707043c34b44c1a832aab38e1827c852024-12-10T05:32:26ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032024-01-011912e031497610.1371/journal.pone.0314976Comparison of journal and top publisher self-citation rates in COVID-19 research.Alvaro Quincho-Lopez<h4>Introduction</h4>Journal self-citation contributes to the overall citation count of a journal and to some metrics like the impact factor. However, little is known about the extent of journal self-citations in COVID-19 research. This study aimed to determine the journal self-citations in COVID-19 research and to compare them according to the type of publication and publisher.<h4>Methods</h4>Data in COVID-19 research extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection 2020-2023 was collected and further analyzed with InCites. The journals with the highest self-citation rates and self-citation per publication were identified. Statistical comparisons were made according to the type of publication and publishers, as well as with other major infectious diseases.<h4>Results</h4>The median self-citation rate was 4.0% (IQR 0-11.7%), and the median journal self-citation rate was 5.9% (IQR 0-12.5%). 1,859 journals (13% of total coverage) had self-citation rates at or above 20%, meaning that more than one in five references are journal self-citations. There was a positive and statistically significant correlation of self-citations with the other indicators, including number of publications, citations, and self-citations per publication (p<0.001). Editorial materials contributed more to journal SC with a median self-citation rate of 5%, which was statistically higher than other documents such as articles, letters or reviews (p<0.001). Among the top twelve publishers, the Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute had a median self-citation rate of 8.33% and was statistically higher than the rest (p<0.001). Self-citation rates for COVID-19 were lower than tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, but self-citations per publication of these diseases were statistically lower than those for COVID-19 (p<0.001).<h4>Conclusion</h4>Some journals from the Web of Science Core Collection displayed exorbitant journal self-citation patterns during the period 2020-2023. Approximately, one in every five paper references in COVID-19 is a journal self-citation. Types of publication such as editorials engage in this practice more frequently than others, suggesting that in COVID-19 research, self-citing non-citable items could potentially contribute to inflate journal impact factors during the pandemic.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0314976 |
| spellingShingle | Alvaro Quincho-Lopez Comparison of journal and top publisher self-citation rates in COVID-19 research. PLoS ONE |
| title | Comparison of journal and top publisher self-citation rates in COVID-19 research. |
| title_full | Comparison of journal and top publisher self-citation rates in COVID-19 research. |
| title_fullStr | Comparison of journal and top publisher self-citation rates in COVID-19 research. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparison of journal and top publisher self-citation rates in COVID-19 research. |
| title_short | Comparison of journal and top publisher self-citation rates in COVID-19 research. |
| title_sort | comparison of journal and top publisher self citation rates in covid 19 research |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0314976 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alvaroquincholopez comparisonofjournalandtoppublisherselfcitationratesincovid19research |