Tracking the history of ideas

Cited Reference Searching is the process of tracking research backward and forwards in time. When viewing an article in a citation database, the full citation will list references used by the author to write that paper. From this list you can link to any articles indexed in that database. If an article is not indexed in that database it will not be linked.

• In practice, you can start with a seminal article by a key author. Cited Reference Searching finds the literature citing that article.

• Cited Reference Searching finds up-to-the-minute articles and papers for your literature review quickly.

• Find the listing of your article in a database, then locate the 'Cited by' link, and click to display the literature.

At QUT Library there are a number of citation databases available, including:

• Google Scholar allows linking under any item listing to 'Cited by' articles, and has a 'Search within citing articles' option.
• Scopus allows a simple 'Cited by' as well as advanced options. Online tutorial: Cited Reference Searching
• Web of Science allows a simple 'Times Cited' as well as a comprehensive Cited Reference Search.