Citation of publications in the natural sciences in the long-term observation

Abstract

The author examines the chronological structure of bibliographic references to scholarly publications in the Web of Science (WoS) journals, in the context of using bibliometric methods in library (for specifying terms of collection acquisitions and preservation) and information practices. Seven thematic domains (WoS’ Subject Areas) within the natural sciences are discussed. The specifics of publication «aging» (citation decrease in proportion to the distance from the publication date) depends on their subject area and country. The determinant para-meters are: time period (from the publication date) to the maximum yearly citation value, ramp time (stabilizing yearly citation), yearly citation level (percent of maximum level), dynamics of citation timetable in the long term (up to 40 years). The author demonstrates that the shape of citation graph depends on the subject area and virtually does not depend on the country of publication.

In six of seven subject areas (mathematics excluding), time of achieving maximum of yearly citation makes 2–4 years. Ramp time period (constant yearly citation level) differs greatly (from 8 to 23 years). Ramp level differs greatly for different subject areas and, within one domain, for the countries from 12% to 63% of maximum yearly citation. The secondary citation is observed in many subject areas at the end of observation period. This phenomenon needs further research. The chronological structure of bibliographic references for Mmathematics differs significantly from the other six subject areas: the y early citation rises a long the longer period (over 40 years); however, the dynamics of citation graph cannot be observed due to the limited time period of the study.