Google Scholar is one of the most popular tools for scientists, helping to track scholarly activity and get information about citations of works. However, there are cases when citations on the platform are displayed incorrectly, creating separate records rather than linking to the main article. This can lead to distorted data in the researcher's profile. In this article, we will explain how to merge a publication with its citations so that the information in your profile is correct and up-to-date.
In our material, we used random articles taken from the Google Scholar platform as examples.
Why do citation errors occur?
Citation errors in Google Scholar are caused by differences in publication metadata. Google Scholar automatically indexes articles and citations based on information about authors, title, journal, year of publication, and other data. If this information differs between sources, Google Scholar may count them as different works.
The main causes of errors:
- differences in the spelling of authors' names: initials, full names, different transliterations, or typos in surnames;
- misspellings of article or journal titles: even a minor error can result in a separate record;
- incomplete metadata: missing DOI, ISSN, volume, issue or journal pages.
How to merge an article and its citations in Google Scholar?
If your Google Scholar profile has problems with the display of citations (as shown in the image), you need to manually merge the article and citation records, to which all mentions of the article in other scientific papers are attributed. We have prepared a step-by-step instruction specifically for this purpose, explaining in detail how to do this.
Step 1: Search for a citation-aware article
The first thing to do when searching for an article in Google Scholar is to make sure the "Include citations" option is enabled in the left pane. This will help you see not only the article itself, but also the entries in which it is cited. This way, you can distinguish the main result (the article itself) from a separate citation record that shows the number of citations.
After performing a search query, pay attention to how the records are displayed. For example, in the image above, we see two types of results: the first is an active link to the article itself, and the second is a citation record that indicates how many times the article has been cited in other papers.
If an article, as in our example, is cited 10 times, it will say "Cited by 10". This is the individual citation record.
Step 2: Adding a citation
Once you have found a citation record, you need to add it to your profile. To do this, go to Google Scholar, open your profile, and click on the "Add article" button.
In the window that appears, enter the full title of the cited work, including the journal and issue number (e.g., "Factual importance and self-significance of ideals in the cultural identification of European countries. Deleted Journal, 8 (4), 45-56").
Complete the process by clicking on the blue tick in the top right corner.
Step 3: Merge entries
When both items (the main article and its citation) have been added, it's time to merge them. Highlight both entries and select the "Merge" option.
Next, you need to choose which record will be the primary record in the scholar's profile. Make sure you tick the article and not the individual citation record. After that, click "Merge" to complete the process.
Your article and its citations will now appear in your profile as one entry, with the correct number of citations. All future citations will be automatically added to the main article.
Why is it important to correctly combine article and citations?
Errors in the display of citations can negatively affect scientific reputation and the accuracy of scientometric indicators. This is especially important for scientists who actively publish their researches and want to track their impact. Incorrectly displayed data can lead to an underestimation of a researcher's scientific contribution and even reduce the visibility of their work in the scientific community.
Problems with displaying citations in Google Scholar is a common but fixable situation. With step-by-step instructions, you can easily correct any errors, merge your article with its citations, and ensure data accuracy. Setting up your profile correctly can help you avoid citation count errors and improve your scholarly performance.
If you need help in increasing the visibility of your articles or optimising your Google Scholar profile, contact "Scientific Publications". Our experts will prepare an individual work plan and help you to adjust all technical parameters according to your request. Fill out the form below and our specialist will contact you for a free consultation. Together to new scientific achievements!
