University of Glasgow

Roderic Page

Bibliographic coupling is a term coined by Kessler
([doi:10.1002/asi.5090140103](http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/asi.5090140103))
in 1963 as a measure of similarity between documents. If two documents,
A and B, cite a third, C, then A and B are coupled.  
  
I\'m interested in extending this to data, such as DNA sequences and
specimens. In part this is because within the challenge dataset I\'m
finding cases where authors cite data, but not the paper publishing the
data. For example, a paper may list all the DNA sequences in uses (thus
citing the original data), but not the paper providing the data.  
  
To make this concrete, the paper \"Towards a phylogenetic framework for
the evolution of shakes, rattles, and rolls in Myiarchus
tyrant-flycatchers (Aves: Passeriformes: Tyrannidae)\"
[doi:10.1016/S1055-7903(03)00259-8](http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1055-7903(03)00259-8)
lists the sequences used, but does not cite the source of three of these
(which is the *Science* paper \"Nonequilibrium Diversity Dynamics of the
Lesser Antillean Avifauna\"
([doi:10.1126/science.1065005](http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1065005)).
As a result, if I was reading \"Nonequilibrium Diversity Dynamics of the
Lesser Antillean Avifauna\" and wanted to learn who had cited it I would
miss the fact that paper \"Towards a phylogenetic framework for the
evolution of shakes, rattles, and rolls\...\" had used the data (and
hence, in effect, \"cited\" the paper). In some cases, data citation may
be more relevant than bibliographic citation because it relates to
people using the data, which seems a more significant action than simply
reading the paper.  
  
Note that I\'m not interested in the issue of credit as such. In the
above example, the authors of the *Science* paper are also coauthors of
the \"shakes, rattles, and rolls\" paper, and hence show commendable
restrain in not citing themselves. I\'m interested in the fate of the
data. Who has used it? What have they done with it? Has anybody
challenged the data (for example, suggesting a sequence was
misindentified)? These are the things that a true \"web of data\" could
tell us.


Bibliographic coupling is a term coined by Kessler (doi:10.1002/asi.5090140103) in 1963 as a measure of similarity between documents. If two documents, A and B, cite a third, C, then A and B are coupled. I'm interested in extending this to data, such as DNA sequences and specimens. In part this is because within the challenge dataset I'm finding cases where authors cite data, but not the paper publishing the data.

Messaggi di Rogue Scholar

From bibliographic coupling to data coupling