What is a Citation Network?
A citation network is a visual or analytical representation of how academic papers reference one another. It helps researchers trace the development of ideas and measure the influence of specific studies.
How It Works
- Each node represents a publication.
- Arrows or lines indicate citation relationships between works.
- Clusters show related research communities or topics.
Uses of Citation Networks
- Identify key authors or foundational papers.
- Discover how theories evolve over time.
- Track interdisciplinary connections between fields.
Tools for Citation Analysis
- Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science.
- Visualisation tools like VOSviewer or CiteSpace.
Benefits
- Highlights knowledge gaps and influential work.
- Supports systematic literature mapping and research planning.