How Citation Boosts Affect Scientific Paradigms and Nobel Prizes
Author Information
Author(s): Mazloumian Amin, Eom Young-Ho, Helbing Dirk, Lozano Sergi, Fortunato Santo
Primary Institution: ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
Hypothesis
How can a previously unknown scientist establish a high scientific reputation and authority despite the rich-gets-richer dynamics of established ideas?
Conclusion
Groundbreaking scientific papers boost the visibility and impact of previous publications by their authors.
Supporting Evidence
- Groundbreaking discoveries are acknowledged by many citations of landmark papers.
- Innovations must outcompete the rich-gets-richer effect for scientific citations.
- Citation cascades can lead to significant changes in scientific paradigms.
Takeaway
When a scientist publishes an important paper, it helps their older papers get noticed more, like how a popular song can make people listen to an artist's earlier songs.
Methodology
The study quantitatively analyzed citation data from Nobel Prize Laureates to evaluate the boosting effect of landmark papers on older publications.
Potential Biases
Potential biases in citation practices and the selection of Nobel Prize Laureates may affect the findings.
Limitations
The study may not account for all factors influencing citation rates and scientific impact.
Participant Demographics
The study focused on 124 Nobel Prize Laureates from various fields including chemistry, economics, medicine, and physics.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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