Summary
The objective of the present study is twofold: (1) to show the aims and means of quantitative interpretation of bibliographic features in bibliometrics and their re-interpretation in research policy, and (2) to summarise the state-of-art in self-citation research. The authors describe three approaches to the role of author self-citations and possible conflicts arising from the different perspectives. From the bibliometric viewpoint we can conclude that that there is no reason for condemning self-citations in general or for removing them from macro or meso statistics; supplementary indicators based on self-citations are, nonetheless, useful to understand communication patterns.
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Glänzel, W., Debackere, K., Thijs, B. et al. A concise review on the role of author self-citations in information science, bibliometrics and science policy. Scientometrics 67, 263–277 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-006-0098-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-006-0098-9