The process of writing research papers involves analysing various types of scientific publications, including research by other scholars on related topics, as well as archival materials. At this stage, it is important to pay due attention to the references to other works, as this directly affects compliance with the principles of academic integrity. It is not uncommon for researchers to cite their own articles written earlier. And here the question arises: is this not a violation? Today, we will take a closer look at this issue and find out whether self-citation is acceptable in the academic environment.
Self-citation: what is it?
Self-citation – is a practice where the author of a research paper refers to his or her previous publications in new research. This phenomenon is quite common in scientific activity, as researchers often develop their ideas based on previously obtained results. It is measured as a percentage, and usually, no more than 12% of self-citation is allowed.
Attitudes towards self-citation in the academic community
In the academic environment, self-citation can cause controversy when a researcher uses it excessively. If a publication has a much higher percentage of self-citations than 12%, it can be perceived as manipulation to artificially increase the citation of one's work. Such abuse of self-citation can raise doubts about scientific integrity and affect the reputation of the researcher.
It is important to approach self-citation with understanding: it must be justified and used when it is necessary to expand on a topic or confirm previous results. In this case, it will meet the requirements of academic ethics and scientific honesty.
Negative consequences of self-citation
The use of excessive self-citation can harm a researcher more than positively influence the citation level of his or her articles. The most common consequences of such activities include
1. Undermining the author's credibility
The first thing that suffers as a result of self-citation abuse is the credibility of the researcher. Excessive reference to one's own work may raise doubts about the researcher's honesty and professional ethics. The scientific community may perceive this as an attempt to artificially increase its influence.
2. Decrease in the quality of research papers
Decrease in the quality of research papers. There are cases when researchers ignore the work of their colleagues in the field related to their research topic. Instead, they actively engage in self-citation, thereby reducing the novelty and relevance of their work. Such excessive self-citation can lead to a decrease in the quality of scientific research, as it does not allow for the integration of new ideas and research by other scientists that can significantly expand the horizons of the topic under study.
3. Violation of academic integrity
Excessive self-citation can be considered a violation of academic ethics, especially if it is used to manipulate or conceal the lack of novelty of a study.
4. Refusal to publish
Before the editorial board of a scientific journal decides whether to accept or reject an article, it must undergo a peer review. It is at this stage that an increased level of self-citation is often detected. As a result, editors and reviewers may pay attention to excessive references to the author's own work, which may raise doubts about the academic integrity and scientific novelty of the research.
If the self-citation rate looks unreasonably high, it may lead to a refusal to publish.
When is self-citation acceptable?
Despite the above-mentioned negative consequences, self-citation is not always unacceptable when writing research papers. There are a number of situations when it is necessary, for example:
- Previous research is critical to understanding the current topic. If your previous work is key to the development of the topic and without it, it is impossible to fully consider the new research.
- Self-citation adds depth and context to the topic. When your previous research helps to better understand an aspect of the topic and provides additional information.
- The current study is directly based on the previous one. If your new work is a logical continuation or extension of your previous research, and citation is necessary to avoid self-plagiarism and to ensure correct scientific development.
Self-citation is a complex process that must be approached responsibly. It is important to take into account the possible negative consequences of its abuse and use it only when it is really necessary. This way, you will be able to write a high-quality study without violating scientific ethics.
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