scieditorScience Editor and PublisherНаучный редактор и издатель2542-02672541-8122АНРИ10.24069/SEP-24-17scieditor-408Research ArticleACADEMIC WRITINGАКАДЕМИЧЕСКОЕ ПИСЬМОWhere did this come from? When (not how) to cite sources in scientific publicationsОткуда это взялось? Когда (а не как) нужно цитировать источники в научных публикацияхhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7482-7727ЛэнгТ. А.LangT. A.

Томас А. Лэнг, медицинский писатель-редактор и тренер по научным публикациям

г. Керкленд, штат Вашингтон

Thomas A. Lang, Medical writer-editor and trainer in scientific publications

Kirkland, WA

tomlangcom@aol.comTom Lang Communications and Training InternationalСоединённые Штаты АмерикиTom Lang Communications and Training InternationalUnited States202426102024915366Copyright © Lang T.A., 20242024Лэнг Т.А.Lang T.A.Данная работа распространяется под лицензией Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.https://www.scieditor.ru/jour/article/view/408

In the scientific literature, the link between an idea and its source is its reference information that allows the source to be identified and located. Not so obvious is where the source is cited in the text. Although authors are given extensive details on how to format references, they are not always taught when to cite them. Further, many are not vigilant in confirming the accuracy of the quoted information against the source or in verifying the associated reference information. In fact, discrepancies between the information cited in the text and the information actually presented in the source are common and often serious. Further, inaccuracies in references that break the link between the citation and its source are even more common. These discrepancies and inaccuracies affect the integrity of science and the validity of the citation metrics (for example, the Journal Impact Factor) that are used, rightly or wrongly, to evaluate the importance of journals and authors. Here, I discuss factors affecting when and where sources should be cited. I also consider factors that can bias the selection of sources and so interfere with the validity of citation analyses, review some considerations for evaluating a source, call attention to citation and quotation error rates, and review some strategies for reducing these errors. Finally, I summarise the most common recommendations for when, what, where, and why sources should or should not be cited.

В научной литературе связующим звеном между идеей и ее источником служит библиографическая информация, которая позволяет идентифицировать и отследить источник. При этом не всегда очевидно, в каком месте в тексте работы необходимо приводить ссылку на источник. Хотя авторы получают подробную информацию о том, как оформлять ссылки, их не всегда учат, когда их нужно указывать. Кроме того, многие авторы не проверяют точность цитируемой информации по источнику или не верифицируют соответствующее библиографическое описание. На самом деле расхождения между цитируемой в тексте информацией и фактически представленной в источнике являются распространенными и часто серьезными. Еще чаще встречаются неточности в ссылках, нарушающие связь между цитатой и ее источником. Эти расхождения и неточности влияют на целостность науки и достоверность показателей цитирования (например, импакт-фактора журнала), которые, справедливо или нет, используются для оценки значимости журналов и авторов. Данная статья посвящена обсуждению факторов, влияющих на то, когда и где следует указывать ссылки на источники. В статье также рассматриваются факторы, которые могут способствовать предвзятости при отборе источников и тем самым нарушить достоверность анализа цитирования; приводятся некоторые соображения об оценке источника; обращается внимание на количество ошибок при цитировании и оформлении ссылок и предлагаются некоторые стратегии по сокращению числа этих ошибок. В заключении обобщаются наиболее распространенные рекомендации в отношении того, когда, что, где и почему следует или не следует цитировать.

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The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest present.