National scientific qualification (NSQ) is a procedure to regulate access to Italian academic positions. An increased use of self-citations could favor the achievement of the minimum bibliometric requirements. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze the self-citing behavior of successful candidates who applied for the NSQ in the Allied Health Professions (AHP) scientific field. Bibliometric indexes of all candidates qualified in the three first sessions (2012, 2013, and 2016) were retrieved from the Scopus database. We developed a new index (ΔSCR) to detect changes in the candidate's habits based on the difference between the Self Citation Rate (SCR) in the year preceding NSQ and that of the previous 10 years. The Kruskal–Wallis test was used to analyze the ΔSCR between sessions. Multivariate regressions were run to investigate the relationship between ΔSCR and six independent factors. Differences in ΔSCR were found between 2012 and 2013 (p = 0.008), between 2013 and 2016 (p < 0.0001), but not between 2012 and 2016 (p = 1.000). Regressions showed highest R2 in ΔSCR ≥ 10 subsets (2012: R2 = 0.373; 2013: R2 = 0.645; 2016: R2 = 0.511). The difference in citation habits (ΔC) was a significant ΔSCR predictor in 2012 and 2013, while publication habits (ΔP) and the difference in the H-index with vs. without self-citations (ΔH) were significant variables in 2012 and 2016, respectively. In the AHP sector, there was an increase in the use of self-citations in the 2013 session. Higher ΔSCR was associated with ΔC, ΔH and ΔP.

Vercelli, S., Pellicciari, L., Croci, A., Cornaggia, C., Cecchi, F., Piscitelli, D. (2023). Self-citation behavior within the health allied professions’ scientific sector in Italy: a bibliometric analysis. SCIENTOMETRICS, 128(3), 1205-1217 [10.1007/s11192-022-04599-w].

Self-citation behavior within the health allied professions’ scientific sector in Italy: a bibliometric analysis

Cornaggia C. M.;Piscitelli D.
Ultimo
2023

Abstract

National scientific qualification (NSQ) is a procedure to regulate access to Italian academic positions. An increased use of self-citations could favor the achievement of the minimum bibliometric requirements. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze the self-citing behavior of successful candidates who applied for the NSQ in the Allied Health Professions (AHP) scientific field. Bibliometric indexes of all candidates qualified in the three first sessions (2012, 2013, and 2016) were retrieved from the Scopus database. We developed a new index (ΔSCR) to detect changes in the candidate's habits based on the difference between the Self Citation Rate (SCR) in the year preceding NSQ and that of the previous 10 years. The Kruskal–Wallis test was used to analyze the ΔSCR between sessions. Multivariate regressions were run to investigate the relationship between ΔSCR and six independent factors. Differences in ΔSCR were found between 2012 and 2013 (p = 0.008), between 2013 and 2016 (p < 0.0001), but not between 2012 and 2016 (p = 1.000). Regressions showed highest R2 in ΔSCR ≥ 10 subsets (2012: R2 = 0.373; 2013: R2 = 0.645; 2016: R2 = 0.511). The difference in citation habits (ΔC) was a significant ΔSCR predictor in 2012 and 2013, while publication habits (ΔP) and the difference in the H-index with vs. without self-citations (ΔH) were significant variables in 2012 and 2016, respectively. In the AHP sector, there was an increase in the use of self-citations in the 2013 session. Higher ΔSCR was associated with ΔC, ΔH and ΔP.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
Academic productivity; Bibliometrics; Citation analysis; H-index; Physiotherapy; Rehabilitation;
English
7-dic-2022
2023
128
3
1205
1217
reserved
Vercelli, S., Pellicciari, L., Croci, A., Cornaggia, C., Cecchi, F., Piscitelli, D. (2023). Self-citation behavior within the health allied professions’ scientific sector in Italy: a bibliometric analysis. SCIENTOMETRICS, 128(3), 1205-1217 [10.1007/s11192-022-04599-w].
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Vercelli-2022-Scientometrics-VoR.pdf

Solo gestori archivio

Descrizione: Article
Tipologia di allegato: Publisher’s Version (Version of Record, VoR)
Licenza: Tutti i diritti riservati
Dimensione 779.64 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
779.64 kB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/399672
Citazioni
  • Scopus 1
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 3
Social impact