Abstract
Citations can be used in evaluative bibliometrics to measure the impact of papers. However, citation analysis can be extended by considering a multidimensional perspective on citation impact which is intended to receive more specific information about the kind of received impact. Bornmann, Wray, and Haunschild (2020) introduced the citation concept analysis (CCA) for capturing the importance and usefulness certain concepts (explained in publications) have in subsequent research. In this paper, we apply the method by investigating the impact various concepts introduced in Robert K. Merton’s book Social Theory and Social Structure has had. This book was to lay down a manifesto for sociological analysis in the immediate postwar period, and retains a major impact 70 years later. We found that the most cited concepts are “self-fulfilling” and “role” (about 20% of the citation contexts are related to one of these concepts). The concept “self-fulfilling” seems to be important especially in computer sciences and psychology. For “role,” this seems to be additionally the case for political sciences. These and further results of the study could demonstrate the high explanatory power of the CCA method.
Highlights
Traditional citation analyses count how often a paper is cited in later citing publications
Citations can be used in evaluative bibliometrics to measure the impact of papers (Narin, 1976)
Citation analysis can be extended by considering a multidimensional perspective on citation impact (Bu, Waltman, & Huang, 2019) which is intended to receive more specific information about the kind of received impact
Summary
Traditional citation analyses count how often a paper is cited in later citing publications. In traditional citation analyses each citation is counted (with a weight of 1). This counting approach is based on the premise of the normative theory of citing that publications are cited to appreciate the contribution of the cited author (or his or her paper) to research (Merton, 1973). The approach of assuming many reasons and functions in the citation process is rooted in the social-constructivist theory of citations. It questions the counting approach in citation analyses
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