Title |
Predictors of Citation Rate in Psychology: Inconclusive Influence of Effect and Sample Size
|
---|---|
Published in |
Frontiers in Psychology, July 2017
|
DOI | 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01160 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Paul H. P. Hanel, Jennifer Haase |
Abstract |
In the present article, we investigate predictors of how often a scientific article is cited. Specifically, we focus on the influence of two often neglected predictors of citation rate: effect size and sample size, using samples from two psychological topical areas. Both can be considered as indicators of the importance of an article and post hoc (or observed) statistical power, and should, especially in applied fields, predict citation rates. In Study 1, effect size did not have an influence on citation rates across a topical area, both with and without controlling for numerous variables that have been previously linked to citation rates. In contrast, sample size predicted citation rates, but only while controlling for other variables. In Study 2, sample and partly effect sizes predicted citation rates, indicating that the relations vary even between scientific topical areas. Statistically significant results had more citations in Study 2 but not in Study 1. The results indicate that the importance (or power) of scientific findings may not be as strongly related to citation rate as is generally assumed. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Netherlands | 4 | 13% |
United Kingdom | 2 | 6% |
United States | 2 | 6% |
Japan | 2 | 6% |
Germany | 1 | 3% |
Sweden | 1 | 3% |
Colombia | 1 | 3% |
Saudi Arabia | 1 | 3% |
Chile | 1 | 3% |
Other | 1 | 3% |
Unknown | 15 | 48% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 20 | 65% |
Scientists | 9 | 29% |
Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 2 | 6% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Unknown | 19 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Master | 6 | 32% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 2 | 11% |
Researcher | 2 | 11% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 2 | 11% |
Professor | 1 | 5% |
Other | 3 | 16% |
Unknown | 3 | 16% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Psychology | 5 | 26% |
Social Sciences | 4 | 21% |
Computer Science | 3 | 16% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 3 | 16% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 1 | 5% |
Other | 0 | 0% |
Unknown | 3 | 16% |