How to view and analyze citations of research papers on ResearchGate?

ResearchGate provides accessible citation data for individual papers, though it should supplement comprehensive citation indexing services. Citation counts combine mentions within the platform and those imported from secondary sources, visible under the specific paper's "Citations" tab. Critically, ResearchGate citations are not exhaustive and represent only a subset of total scholarly citations due to varying source coverage and reporting mechanisms. While useful for gauging visibility within certain communities, relying solely on ResearchGate metrics risks incomplete understanding; cross-referencing with established databases like Scopus, Web of Science, or Google Scholar is imperative for accuracy and completeness. To analyze citations on ResearchGate, navigate to the paper's profile and click the "Citations" tab. Manually scan the listed references to differentiate mentions occurring within ResearchGate discussions (e.g., project posts, questions) from citations imported from bibliographic databases. Assess the source and context of these citations. Further, export the list (if available) and scrutinize them within the context of citations sourced from primary indexing platforms for trends, potential self-citations, and impact scope. This aggregated view offers insights into reach within the ResearchGate community and broader dissemination. Regular cross-verification remains essential for a reliable analysis of overall impact.