Cited references are the articles, books or other materials listed in a bibliography or as works cited in a particular publication. Because citation databases index each reference, it is possible to search these cited references. One can follow a particular cited reference, or cited author, forward in time to find more current articles that have also cited that author or work.
Why use cited reference searching?
- To locate current research based on earlier research
- To find out how many times and where a publication is being cited
- To find out who is citing a particular paper
- To find out how a particular research topic is being used to support other research
- To track the history of a research idea
- To track the research history of a researcher
- To determine how well your own published research is cited for promotion/tenure considerations
What resources offer cited reference searching?
Many online resources offer cited reference searching; examples are:
Web of Science
The most comprehensive source for cited reference searching. Despite its name, it covers all disciplines.
Academic Search Complete
Look for the Times Cited in this Database link in your results list or begin your search by clicking on the Cited References link above the search form.
SportDiscus
Look for the Times Cited in this Database link in your results list or begin your search by clicking on the Cited References link above the search form.
Google Scholar
Look for the Cited By link in your results list.
This list does not list all of the databases which link to citing articles; look at the record within the database you are working, and the functionality may be there as well.