Greenberg, SA. 2011. Understanding belief using citation networks. JOURNAL OF EVALUATION IN CLINICAL PRACTICE 17 (2): 389-393

[Eugene Garfield]

Greenberg, SA. 2011. Understanding belief using citation networks. JOURNAL OF 
EVALUATION IN CLINICAL PRACTICE 17 (2): 389-393..

Author Full Name(s): Greenberg, Steven A.
Language: English
Document Type: Article
Author Keywords: citation

Abstract: Citation is a powerful method for establishing belief. Published 
statements gain credibility when followed by citations. Citation in its purest 
form consists of the scholarly connection of authors' ideas and claims to 
existing literature, yet there are also non-scholarly uses of citation that are 
best called citation distortions. Unfounded biomedical belief systems arising 
from citation distortions may become widely accepted as fact. The 
development of methodology for the study of citation distortions and belief 
systems regarding scientific claims was recently described. Here, I discuss 
further the methodological approaches to studying published scientific belief 
systems and identifying citation distortions.

Addresses: [Greenberg, Steven A.] Brigham & Womens Hosp, Dept Neurol, Div 
Neuromuscular Dis, Boston, MA 02115 USA; [Greenberg, Steven A.] Harvard 
Univ, Sch Med, Informat Program, Childrens Hosp, Boston, MA USA

Reprint Address: Greenberg, SA, Brigham & Womens Hosp, Dept Neurol, Div 
Neuromuscular Dis, 75 Francis St, Boston, MA 02115 USA.
E-mail Address: sagreenberg at partners.org
ISSN: 1356-1294
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2753.2011.01646.x
fulltext: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-
2753.2011.01646.x/full