Citation analysis of scholarly communication in the journal Knowledge Organization

Abstract

Purpose

Citation analysis is one of the popular methods employed for identification of core documents and complex relationship between citing and cited documents for a particular scholarly community in a geographical proximity. The present citation study is to understand the information needs, use pattern and use behaviour of library and information science researchers particularly engaged in the field of knowledge organization.

Design/methodology/approach

The data relating to all the references appended to the articles during the period under study were collected and tabulated.

Findings

Citation analysis of the journal for the period under study reveals that the average number of citations is around 21 per article. The major source of information is books and documents published during the later half of the century (1982‐91). Authors from the USA, UK and Germany are the major contributors to the journal. India is ranked seventh in terms of contributions.

Research limitations/implications

The study undertaken is limited to nine years, i.e. 1993‐2001. The model citation index of the journal is analyzed using the first seven core authors.

Practical implications

Ranking of periodicals helps to identify the core periodicals cited in the journal Knowledge Organization. Ranking of authors is done to know the eminent personalities in the subject, whose work is used by the authors to refine their ideas on the subject or topic.

Originality/value

Model Citation Index for the first seven most cited authors was worked out and it reveals the historical relationship of cited and citing documents. This model citation index can be used to identify, the most cited authors as researchers currently working on special problems, to determine whether a paper has been cited, whether there has been a review of a subject, whether a concept has been applied, a theory confirmed or a method improved.

Citation

Haridasan, S. and Kulshrestha, V.K. (2007), "Citation analysis of scholarly communication in the journal Knowledge Organization", Library Review, Vol. 56 No. 4, pp. 299-310. https://doi.org/10.1108/00242530710743525