What is Citation Analysis?
Citation Analysis refers to examining how citations function in a particular text or discourse community to establish credibility/authority and appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos. It involves tracking how often and where specific works, authors, or ideas are cited to assess their influence in scholarly conversations. Writers, critics, and institutions engage in citation analysis for different reasons, based on their roles and objectives within academic and professional settings.
Why Writers, Scholars, and Researchers Engage in Citation Analysis
Writers, scholars, and researchers analyze citations to make informed decisions about how to position their work within an ongoing scholarly conversation. Citation analysis allows them to:
- Assess the status of a scholarly conversation – Writers use citation patterns to determine how a topic has evolved, identifying major contributors and key arguments in the field.
- Identify gaps in knowledge – By tracking which topics and perspectives are frequently cited and which are underrepresented, writers can determine where they might contribute new insights.
- Strengthen credibility within a discourse community – Citation choices signal familiarity with established research, align arguments with authoritative sources, and demonstrate methodological awareness.
- Navigate genre expectations – Different fields and publication types (e.g., research articles, white papers, technical reports) have distinct citation practices, which citation analysis helps writers understand and apply.
- Evaluate citation density – Different genres and disciplines cite sources at varying frequencies; for example, scientific papers cite heavily, while journalistic pieces may rely on only a few references.
- Determine citation function – Writers examine whether citations serve to provide background, support an argument, engage in debate, or establish interdisciplinary connections.
- Assess source types – Some genres prioritize peer-reviewed sources, while others value case studies, government reports, or industry publications.
- Track self-citation and networked citation – Some scholars cite their previous work or reference close collaborators, reinforcing intellectual networks within their field.
For students learning how to engage with disciplinary writing, analyzing how sources are used in published work provides a model for effective citation practices in their own writing.
Why Institutions and Scholarly Communities Engage in Citation Analysis
Universities, research organizations, and journals use citation analysis to measure scholarly productivity and assess the influence of specific works or authors. They engage in citation analysis to:
- Track citation counts – High citation counts often indicate influential research, though different fields have varying standards for what constitutes high impact.
- Measure the impact factor of journals – Academic journals track how often their articles are cited to establish prestige and attract quality submissions.
- Evaluate faculty productivity – Universities may use citation metrics in tenure and promotion decisions, assessing the reach and influence of a scholar’s work.
- Identify research trends – Citation analysis helps institutions see which topics are gaining traction, shaping funding and research priorities.
For professionals navigating academia or publishing, understanding how institutions use citation metrics can inform career decisions, from selecting journals to engaging with influential research.
How Writers Use Citation Rhetorically
Beyond ethos, pathos, and logos, writers engage in citation analysis to:
- Establish disciplinary alignment – Using field-specific sources signals knowledge of professional norms and builds credibility with specialized audiences.
- Distinguish between competing perspectives – Writers analyze citations to contextualize their stance, refuting or expanding upon existing work.
- Demonstrate methodological grounding – Citing sources that use specific research methods helps align work with recognized approaches in the field.
- Provide historical context – Citation analysis shows how ideas have developed over time and situates new contributions within an intellectual tradition.
To learn more about citation – why, when, and how academic and professional writers use citations — see Citation Guide – Learn How to Cite Sources in Academic and Professional Writing.
How to Conduct a Citation Analysis
Students and professionals can apply citation analysis in their own work by following these steps:
How to Conduct a Citation Analysis
Students and professionals can apply citation analysis in their own work by following these steps:
Identify Citation Patterns
- Who is being cited most frequently? Are there key scholars or foundational works that dominate the discussion?
- What types of sources are cited? Are they books, peer-reviewed journal articles, industry reports, or government publications?
- Are citations used to confirm, challenge, or extend prior research? How do the sources function within the argument?
- What methodological communities are reflected in the citations? Are the cited sources aligned with the traditions of The Creatives, The Designers, The Empiricists, The Integrators, The Synthesizers, or The Scholars?
- Are citations concentrated within a single disciplinary perspective, or does the article engage with interdisciplinary sources?
Conduct a Rhetorical and Genre Analysis of the Citations
- Who publishes the journal? Is it a professional association, a university, or a corporate entity?
- Who are the authors of the articles? Are they scholars, practitioners, or industry professionals?
- Who is the intended audience? Is the article written for academics, policymakers, or practitioners?
- How does the article position itself within ongoing conversations? Does it align with established research, critique existing work, or introduce new methodologies?
- How does it engage with prior research? Does it confirm, challenge, or extend past findings?
Evaluate Citation Trends Across the Field
- Compare citation density: Are sources heavily cited throughout the article, or are they concentrated in specific sections?
- Does the article engage with the most current research, or are most citations older? How does this affect the argument’s relevance?
- Does the work self-cite the author’s previous research? How does this practice influence the scholarly conversation?
Apply CRAAP and SIFT Methods to Citation Evaluation
- Use The CRAAP Test to assess whether citations meet the standards of Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose.
- Apply The SIFT Method (Stop, Investigate the source, Find better coverage, Trace claims) to determine whether sources contribute to a well-supported argument or introduce potential bias.
Use Citation Analysis to Inform Your Writing
- Adopt citation practices that align with your audience’s expectations.
- Ensure your citations strengthen your credibility and authority within your field.
- Identify gaps where you can make an original contribution.
To learn more about citation—why, when, and how academic and professional writers use citations—see [Citation Guide – Learn How to Cite Sources in Academic and Professional Writing].
