On the objectives of citation analysis: Problems of theory and method

Citation analysis can go beyond its present preoccupations and explore new areas if it follows several rules of research design—some of them known and generally accepted, others specific to this discipline: (a) a rigorous definition of the research objectives is essential in deciding on its design, including the selection and definition of variables and the measurement of their effects; (b) the ascertainment of content-related variables enhances...