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The mathematical review system: does reviewer status play a role in the citation process?

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  • Alesia Zuccala

    (Leiden University)

Abstract

This paper revisits an aspect of citation theory (i.e., citer motivation) with respect to the Mathematical Review system and the reviewer’s role in mathematics. We focus on a set of journal articles (369) published in Singularity Theory (1974–2003), the mathematicians who wrote editorial reviews for these articles, and the number of citations each reviewed article received within a 5 year period. Our research hypothesis is that the cognitive authority of a high status reviewer plays a positive role in how well a new article is received and cited by others. Bibliometric evidence points to the contrary: Singularity Theorists of lower status (junior researchers) have reviewed slightly more well-cited articles (2–5 citations, excluding author self-citations) than their higher status counterparts (senior researchers). One explanation for this result is that lower status researchers may have been asked to review ‘trendy’ or more accessible parts of mathematics, which are easier to use and cite. We offer further explanations and discuss a number of implications for a theory of citation in mathematics. This research opens the door for comparisons to other editorial review systems, such as book reviews written in the social sciences or humanities.

Suggested Citation

  • Alesia Zuccala, 2010. "The mathematical review system: does reviewer status play a role in the citation process?," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 84(1), pages 221-235, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:84:y:2010:i:1:d:10.1007_s11192-010-0161-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-010-0161-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alesia Zuccala, 2006. "Modeling the invisible college," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 57(2), pages 152-168, January.
    2. Soler, José M., 2007. "A rational indicator of scientific creativity," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 1(2), pages 123-130.
    3. Donald O. Case & Georgeann M. Higgins, 2000. "How can we investigate citation behavior? A study of reasons for citing literature in communication," Journal of the American Society for Information Science, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 51(7), pages 635-645.
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    2. Ehsan Mohammadi & Mike Thelwall, 2013. "Assessing non-standard article impact using F1000 labels," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 97(2), pages 383-395, November.

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