Library Help: Office For Open Research

What is a Highly Cited Paper?

A Highly Cited Paper is a designation given to a publication that ranks in the top 1% of papers for citations within its field, based on data from Web of Science. This designation recognises research that has had a significant academic impact and has been widely cited by other scholars in the same or related fields. Highly Cited Papers are considered to be among the most influential and widely recognised contributions to a specific discipline.

The term “highly cited” is relative to the field and publication year, so a paper's citation count must surpass a certain threshold to earn this status within its field.

Why is the 'Highly Cited Paper' designation of note?

1. Research Impact: Being named a Highly Cited Paper signifies that the research has had a substantial influence on the research community. These papers can often be demonstrated as representing foundational works, or providing key contributions to ongoing discussions in the field.

2. Recognition and Visibility: Highly Cited Papers often attract attention beyond the academic community, such as media coverage or citations in policy documents. This can increase the visibility of your research and provide you with tangible evidence of research impact.

How Are Highly Cited Papers determined?

Clarivate's Web of Science identifies Highly Cited Papers by evaluating citation data. Papers that are in the top 1% of citations for their field and publication year are designated as Highly Cited. The criteria are dynamic, so the threshold for citation counts may shift based on the volume of research being published in a particular field.

The process relies on citation data across journals indexed in Web of Science, which are carefully curated to ensure quality and relevance.

Platforms for Highly Cited Paper designation

1. Web of Science:

   • Web of Science is the primary platform where Highly Cited Papers are identified. The platform’s citation data is regularly updated, and researchers can use it to track how their own work fares in comparison to others in their field.
      

2. InCites:

   • InCites, which is based on Web of Science data, can also be used to track and analyse Highly Cited Papers. It offers in-depth tools for institutions to assess research performance, including a focus on Highly Cited status.

How to Find Highly Cited papers in Web of Science

To find Highly Cited Papers in Web of Science, follow these steps:

1. Search for Your Paper:

   • Acess Web of Science using the link available within Library Search
   • Use the search function to locate your paper by title, DOI, or author name.

2. Review Citation Metrics:

   • Once you have located your paper, look at the citation information provided. If the paper is a Highly Cited Paper, Web of Science will label it as such in the citation overview.

3. Use Citation Reports:

   • You can also explore Citation Reports in Web of Science to identify the most highly cited papers across disciplines. This will show which articles are ranked within the top 1% of their fields.