Use a multi-route discovery log: start from the seed record, run similar-article links, shared-reference checks, concept filters, and author searches, and record each route's yield to build a candidate set and identify the most productive route. This method works when citation chaining stalls because the seed paper cites too few works.
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Open the seed record and note its metadata. Capture the title, authors, references, and any concept or subject terms. This gives you the inputs for the other routes.
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Run the similar-article link. In databases that provide a similar-article feature, such as PubMed, use it to retrieve records related to the seed. Log the number of results and how many are new candidates. Expected result: a short list of topically related papers that do not depend on the seed's citation list.
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Check shared references. If the seed has any references, look for other papers that cite those same references. This surfaces work connected through a common source rather than through the seed itself. Log how many new candidates appear.
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Apply concept filters. Use the database's concept or subject filters to narrow the search to the seed's core concepts. In OpenAlex, filters can narrow works by attributes such as concepts, authorship, dates, and open-access status. Log the filter combination and the number of new candidates it returns.
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Search by author. Search for the seed's authors to find their other publications and co-authored work. In OpenAlex, author identifiers can be used to narrow works by authorship. Log the author names or identifiers used and the new candidates found.
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Compile and compare. Combine the candidates from all routes into one list, remove duplicates, and note which route produced the most new candidates. That route is your most productive discovery path for this seed.
Keep the log as a simple table with columns for route, query or link used, number of results, and number of new candidates. The candidate set and the route comparison give you a clear next step: repeat the most productive route with adjacent concepts or authors.