On the causes of subject-specific citation rates in Web of Science

摘要: It is well known in bibliometrics that the average number of citations per paper differs greatly between various disciplines. The differing citation culture (in particular different references and thereby probability being cited) widely seen as cause this variation. Based on all Web Science (WoS) records published 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010 we demonstrate almost disciplines show similar numbers appendices their papers. Our results suggest rate far more influenced by extent to which papers (cited references) are included WoS linked database records. For example, comparatively low rates humanities not at result a lower but caused fraction refer core journals covered WoS.