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The development of eponymy; A case study of the Southern blot

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Abstract

Direct, indirect, and implicit citation to an eponymous paper is examined to determine the time span over which eponymy develops. The eponym of a very highly cited method paper was commonly used, indexed, and became a chapter title within 5 years after publication. It began to receive implicit citations within about 6 years, and within 14 years, the implicit citation rate exceeded 50%. Definitions of three forms of citation are given, and an empirical definition of eponymy is offered.

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  1. CIBA-GEIGY Biotechnology Research (USA) and School of Information and Library Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, (USA)

    Katharine S. Thomas

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  1. Katharine S. Thomas
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Thomas, K.S. The development of eponymy; A case study of the Southern blot. Scientometrics 24, 405–417 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02051038

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