Purpose:This study explores the implications of low journal self-citation rate(LJSCR).While some interpret LJSCR as a sign that a journal’s authors do not cite each other’s work,others see it as a mark of prestige,r...Purpose:This study explores the implications of low journal self-citation rate(LJSCR).While some interpret LJSCR as a sign that a journal’s authors do not cite each other’s work,others see it as a mark of prestige,reflecting greater recognition from outside the journal.We argue that these perspectives are not contradictory:low self-citation can be prestigious precisely because it reflects low self-readership.Design/methodology/approach:We analyze the physics and mathematics of journal self-citation.Our findings show that the self-citation rate(i)increases with journal market share,(ii)approaches a well-defined upper bound,(iii)this upper bound remains significantly below unity,and(iv)without a minimum level of market share,self-citation is virtually absent.Here,market share refers to the proportion of a journal’s publications relative to its Web of Science(WOS)subject category.To test our analysis,we examine 61 journal-years of data from three major hybrid fluid dynamics journals:Journal of Fluid Mechanics,Physical Review Fluids,and Physics of Fluids.Findings:We identify a consistent relationship between journal self-citation and market share.A striking result is the mathematical analogy we establish between journal self-citation behavior and the concentration of intermediates in consecutive irreversible unimolecular chemical reactions.We also observe that creating specialized subdisciplinary journals(“twigging”)can reduce self-citation rates by narrowing scope.Research limitations:The study is limited to fluid dynamics journals.Broader validation across disciplines is needed.Practical implications:Editors and publishers can apply these insights to interpret citation metrics and assess the visibility and readership of their journals.Originality/value:This work redefines LJSCR as a counterintuitive metric—one that may reflect both low author engagement and high external impact.It introduces a novel physics-based model to understand citation behavior across journals.展开更多
文摘Purpose:This study explores the implications of low journal self-citation rate(LJSCR).While some interpret LJSCR as a sign that a journal’s authors do not cite each other’s work,others see it as a mark of prestige,reflecting greater recognition from outside the journal.We argue that these perspectives are not contradictory:low self-citation can be prestigious precisely because it reflects low self-readership.Design/methodology/approach:We analyze the physics and mathematics of journal self-citation.Our findings show that the self-citation rate(i)increases with journal market share,(ii)approaches a well-defined upper bound,(iii)this upper bound remains significantly below unity,and(iv)without a minimum level of market share,self-citation is virtually absent.Here,market share refers to the proportion of a journal’s publications relative to its Web of Science(WOS)subject category.To test our analysis,we examine 61 journal-years of data from three major hybrid fluid dynamics journals:Journal of Fluid Mechanics,Physical Review Fluids,and Physics of Fluids.Findings:We identify a consistent relationship between journal self-citation and market share.A striking result is the mathematical analogy we establish between journal self-citation behavior and the concentration of intermediates in consecutive irreversible unimolecular chemical reactions.We also observe that creating specialized subdisciplinary journals(“twigging”)can reduce self-citation rates by narrowing scope.Research limitations:The study is limited to fluid dynamics journals.Broader validation across disciplines is needed.Practical implications:Editors and publishers can apply these insights to interpret citation metrics and assess the visibility and readership of their journals.Originality/value:This work redefines LJSCR as a counterintuitive metric—one that may reflect both low author engagement and high external impact.It introduces a novel physics-based model to understand citation behavior across journals.
