What Makes a Scientific Paper Influential? - a Citation Analysis

Tinbergen Institute Discussion Paper No. TI 2000-032/1

34 Pages Posted: 2 Jan 2001

See all articles by Hendrik P. van Dalen

Hendrik P. van Dalen

Tilburg University, CentER; Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI)

Kene Henkens

Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute

Date Written: March 8, 2000

Abstract

In this paper we examine, by means of a citation analysis, which factors influence the impact of scientific articles published in all demography journals registered by the SSCI between 1990 and 1992. Several quantifiable characteristics of the articles (characteristics with respect to authors, visibility, content and journals) are strongly related to their subsequent impact in the social sciences. Articles are most frequently cited when they deal with empirical, ahistorical research focusing on populations in the developed world, when they are prominently placed in a journal issue, when they are written in English and when they appear in core (demography) journals. Furthermore, although eminent scholars are likely to be cited on the basis of their reputation, the effect of reputation appears to be small.

Keywords: Science, increasing returns, impact

JEL Classification: J4, B0

Suggested Citation

van Dalen, Hendrik P. and Henkens, Kene, What Makes a Scientific Paper Influential? - a Citation Analysis (March 8, 2000). Tinbergen Institute Discussion Paper No. TI 2000-032/1, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=250885 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.250885

Hendrik P. Van Dalen (Contact Author)

Tilburg University, CentER ( email )

Tilburg University
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Tilburg, NL-5000 LE
Netherlands
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HOME PAGE: http://www.tilburguniversity.nl/webwijs/show/?uid=h.p.vandalen

Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI) ( email )

P.O. Box 11650
NL-2502 AR The Hague
Netherlands
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HOME PAGE: http://www.nidi.knaw.nl/en/staff/vandalen/

Kene Henkens

Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute ( email )

P.O. Box 11650
The Hague NL-2502 AR
Netherlands
+3170 3565235 (Phone)
+3170 3647187 (Fax)

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