Citation Index
nounPronunciation: /ˈsaɪtˈeɪʃən ˈɪndɛks/
A searchable database that tracks and displays citations between published scholarly works, enabling researchers to identify influential papers and trace research evolution. Examples include Web of Science and Scopus.
Plain English
A searchable database showing which research papers have been cited by other scholars.
Etymology & History
Usage
"Researchers used the citation index to track how often their landmark study was referenced by subsequent publications."
Style guide notes: Capitalize specific index names like 'Web of Science' but use lowercase for generic references like 'citation index'.
Also known as
Contrasted with
Related Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
What information do citation indexes provide?
Citation indexes show how many times a paper was cited, by whom, and enable researchers to find related work.
Which citation indexes are most widely used?
Web of Science and Scopus are the most comprehensive commercial indexes; Google Scholar offers free alternatives.
Why Test Candidates on This?
Essential for librarian competency in research assessment and helping patrons locate influential scholarly works.
Required skill level: Mid