If we will do research work by using same analytical tool which is already used by yourself, so self-citation can occurs in an article when an author references another of their own publications. Is it ethical or Unethical ?
Self-citation is quiet normal in science. See also these previous discussions:
https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_is_your_opinion_on_self-citation
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Can_i_use_my_previous_published_research_as_a_reference_for_my_new_research
https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_much_self-citations_affect_the_authors_credibility
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Is_Self-Citation_considered_as_a_type_of_plagiarism
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Self_citation_in_research
https://www.researchgate.net/post/SELF_CITATION_Is_it_against_the_ethics_of_research
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Citation-of-own-work
https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_are_the_top_journals_attitudes_toward_self-citations
https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_does_self_citation_affect_your_academic_profile
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Is_self-citation_functioning_in_the_same_way_as_any_cited_reference_appended_to_a_paper
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Is_it_bad_to_self_cite
https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_are_the_dangers_of_self-citations
Legitimate self citation is 100% ethical. We are the experts on our own topic :)
AN author is citing an important result he found and so sure of it, is something so logic and legitimate. Regards.
It is entirely ethical. Most researchers have built a research program focusing on some area of expertise and they need to cite themselves as part of building their program. However, self citation to the exclusion of other citations is not so good. It is especially bad if you are using self citations to exclude competing or contradictory alternative ideas. Some journals ask reviewers about excessive self citation. Some impact metrics exclude self citations.
Yes, I agree with the above threads; when I used to reference my own articles it was usually relating to my research and after my original PhD, there was only me writing about it.
But naturally, I mainly referenced other papers / articles.
It is Ethical
Just go through COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines.
Excessive self-citation with the intention of raising one's impact factor is considered unethical and falls under the subset of citation manipulation.
https://www.turnitin.com/blog/what-is-self-citation-and-what-does-it-have-to-do-with-academic-integrity
Self citation is absolutely normal if it supports your purpose. However, if self-citation are excessive and do not support the text or the claims, then it can be unethical.
Hello Dr Rede Ganeshkumar Dilipkumar
I totally agree with Dr Xavier Martini in the above comment and have cited my own work for this purpose - particularly when there is little literature on the topic.
It's ethical if it serves a purpose. Otherwise it does not reflect good about researcher.
Self-citation, which occurs when an author references their own previous publications, is a common practice in academic research. Whether self-citation is considered ethical or unethical depends on the context and the motivations behind it. Let's explore both perspectives:
1. Ethical considerations:
a. Building on previous work: Self-citation can be ethical when the author is building upon their own earlier research, acknowledging the foundation they have established. It helps to provide the necessary background and context for the current study.
b. Demonstrating expertise: Self-citation can be justified if the author's previous work is relevant to the current study and adds value by demonstrating their expertise in the field.
c. Ensuring accuracy and completeness: Self-citation may be necessary to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the reference list, especially if the author's previous work is directly relevant to the research being conducted.
2. Unethical considerations:
a. Artificially inflating citation counts: If an author excessively self-cites their own work primarily to boost their citation count or enhance their reputation, it can be seen as unethical manipulation of metrics.
b. Circumventing peer review: If self-citation is used as a means to bypass the rigorous peer review process by selectively citing one's own work without proper justification, it can be considered unethical.
c. Excluding relevant external research: Overemphasizing self-citation at the expense of citing other valuable and relevant external research can be viewed as a bias towards self-promotion.
In summary, self-citation can be ethical when it is done for valid reasons, such as building upon previous work, demonstrating expertise, or ensuring accuracy. However, it can be unethical if it is used solely for self-promotion or to manipulate citation metrics, while ignoring the contributions of others. Researchers should exercise discretion and fairness when self-citing and ensure that the primary goal is to advance knowledge rather than personal gain.
I totally agree with what was said. It is hard to say, from the outside it seems unethical. For me, self-citation occurs when I know my work well, the way when know the work of others well. I will never cite something I am not strongly familiar with. Thus, if I have worked on the topic, and I feel my work is different, I do self-citation. But I do understand it is hard from the outside, people tend to see as “favoritism”. I have already been rejected with too much self-citation. One thing they forget: self-citation does not mean you work cited does not cite somebody else; people should consider citations therein also. I see a dilemma: citing your work you know well, or cite something you have no familiarity, just to avoid reviewers or external critics. Whenever I have worked on the topic, I do self-citation!
Self-citation is considered acceptable in the academic community when used appropriately and relevantly. While it allows authors to build on previous work, excessive self-citation for the purpose of inflating citation counts can raise ethical concerns. You can find more information on self-citation and its impact on research integrity on our website: https://researchbrains.com/self-citation/.
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