Between Texts and Contexts: Advances in Theories of Citation? (A Rejoinder)

Scientometrics 44 (1999) 169-182

16 Pages Posted: 15 Jun 2013

See all articles by Loet Leydesdorff

Loet Leydesdorff

University of Amsterdam - Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR)

Paul Wouters

Leiden University - Centre for Science and Technology Studies

Abstract

Scientific literature is expected to contain a body of knowledge that can be indexed and retrieved using references and citations. References are subtexts which refer to a supertext, that is, the body of scientific literature. The Science Citation Index has provided an electronic representation of science at the supertextual level by aggregating the subtextual citations. As the supertext, however, becomes independently available in virtual reality (as a "hypertext"), subtext and supertext become increasingly different contexts. The dynamics of hyperlinks are expected to feedback on the system of indexing, referencing, and retrieval at the level of research practices. References can be considered as part of the retention mechanism of this evolving system of scientific communication, and citations are a codified form of referencing.

Suggested Citation

Leydesdorff, Loet and Wouters, Paul, Between Texts and Contexts: Advances in Theories of Citation? (A Rejoinder). Scientometrics 44 (1999) 169-182, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2279069 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2279069

Loet Leydesdorff (Contact Author)

University of Amsterdam - Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR) ( email )

PO Box 15793
Amsterdam, 1001 NG
Netherlands

HOME PAGE: http://www.leydesdorff.net

Paul Wouters

Leiden University - Centre for Science and Technology Studies ( email )

Leiden
Netherlands

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
34
Abstract Views
726
PlumX Metrics