How to search using references
Use references as the starting point for your search. It is a brilliant technique that helps you find texts on similar topics without having to come up with keywords. It is a great way to discover relevant literature.
Using citations and references for searching
Searching by references and citations is an excellent method for finding out which other works cite an article and which sources an article is based on. With this technique, you do not need to brainstorm a lot of keywords; instead, you work from key sources you already know.
By combining reference and citation searches, you can build a thorough and structured literature search. This approach is especially useful when writing literature reviews or overview articles, or when keyword-based searches do not give the results you need.
There are several exciting ways to search using references. Here, we focus on citations, which look forward in time, and references, which look backwards in time.
Who has cited an article – newer sources?
Imagine you have an important article – a key text. It might be a piece from your syllabus or one recommended by your lecturer. By finding citations, you can see which other works have cited that article – often called cited by in article databases.
This technique is useful if you want to find what has been written on the topic since the article was published, or if you are looking for criticism of it. Use tools such as Scopus, Web of Science or Google Scholar to perform this type of search.
What is the article based on – older sources?
When you search by references, you go in the opposite direction. You examine which publications your key article has cited by reviewing its reference list – the sources it builds upon.
This technique is ideal for gaining an overview of the works that have shaped your key article.
Visualising literature as a timeline
Imagine the literature as a timeline:
- if you want to find newer texts, perform a citation search
- if you want to find older literature, look through the reference list
Who cites whom?
Use citation databases to find out. Here are some of the online resources we recommend for reference-based searches.
Scopus
Scopus is our favourite resource for this type of search. It offers so many features that once you start exploring, you will not want to stop. Scopus covers a wide range of subjects and includes powerful analytical tools, making it possible to track citations, author impact and the development of research areas over time.
Web of Science
Web of Science covers a lot of research areas. Its strengths lie in its high-quality control and extensive historical coverage, making it particularly valuable for locating older but influential articles.
Social Science Citation Index
A sub-database of Web of Science focusing on social science disciplines such as sociology, psychology, economics, education and political science. Its strength lies in its in-depth coverage of social science journals, which are often underrepresented in other databases.
Save the sources you find
Use a reference management tool to save all the useful sources you discover. That way, you will not need to search for them again, and it is easier to insert citations and create reference lists in your assignments.
