Data Citation

Definition

Generally, a data citation refers to an entry for a dataset within the reference list of an article, book, conference proceeding, or other document. Datasets can also be cited when they are in a repository.  Datasets are often not listed within the references, however, and may sometimes be noted in the methods section or the acknowledgements. While this can be considered a data citation, they will not be captured by standard citation counting methods, and so will not be included in databases that track citation counts.

Examples

Data citation from figshare:

Schiavo, Jennifer (2020): Innate and plastic mechanisms in auditory cortex for maternal behavior. figshare. Collection. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5043830.v6 

Data citation from ICPSR: Kovner, Christine Tassone, and Brewer, Carol S. Newly Licensed Registered Nurse Quality Improvement Survey 1, 2008. Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2021-01-27. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR36817.v3

Tools

DataCite is a non-profit organization that provides persistent identifiers (DOIs) for research data and other research outputs. 

CiteAs is a way to get the correct citation for diverse research products including software, datasets, preprints, and traditional articles.

Further Resources

The metrics toolkit provides information about definitions, use cases, and limitations for this and many other metrics: https://www.metrics-toolkit.org/metrics/citations_data/

Force11 is an organization that supports scholarly communications and they worked with other organizations to develop a Joint Declaration of Data Citation Principles: https://force11.org/info/joint-declaration-of-data-citation-principles-final/

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