How to conduct citation analysis using Web of Science?

Citation analysis in Web of Science involves systematically examining references cited by and citing a specific publication or set of publications to assess influence and scholarly connections. This is feasible using the platform's structured citation data and analytical tools. Begin by searching for the target publication(s) or author(s) within Web of Science. Analyze retrieved records using the "Citation Report" feature to obtain metrics like total citation counts, citations per year, and the h-index. Explore "Times Cited" to identify citing works, and "Cited References" to trace the article's sources. Utilize the "Analyze Results" tool to visualize trends and patterns across fields. Key considerations include Web of Science's selective journal coverage, variable citation window across disciplines, and differences in citing motivations; precise search terms are essential, especially for authors with common names. This analysis primarily serves to evaluate research impact, uncover key contributors, map knowledge flow across disciplines, identify emerging trends, and locate related work. Typical applications include benchmarking individual or institutional performance, literature reviews, tenure evaluations, and strategic research planning. Core functions supporting these applications involve examining citation networks, generating citation reports, and using analytical visualizations.