Economic Inquiry· 2014Q1
DO <scp>ABCs</scp> GET MORE CITATIONS THAN <scp>XYZs</scp>?
- 50citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2014year
Short summary
First authors whose surnames start with letters earlier in the alphabet receive more citations, a bias that is stronger in fields with longer reference lists.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- Papers with first authors whose surname initials are earlier in the alphabet receive more citations.
- This alphabetical bias does not apply to non-first authors.
- The effect is stronger in fields with longer reference lists.
- The bias is observed in citations by others, not self-citations.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Abstract Using a sample of U.S.‐based scientific journal articles, I examine the relationship between author surname initials and paper citations, finding that the papers with first authors whose surname initials appear earlier in the alphabet get more citations, and that this effect does not exist for non‐first authors. Further analysis shows that the alphabetical order effect is stronger in those fields with longer reference lists, and that such alphabetical bias exists among citations by others and not for self‐citations. In addition, estimates also reveal that the alphabetical order effect is stronger when the length of reference lists in citing papers is longer. These findings suggest that the order in reference lists plays an important role in the alphabetical bias. (JEL D0, O3, Z1)
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Economic Inquiry, 2014 · DOI ↗
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