A new citation concept: Triangular citation in the literature

Abstract This paper introduces the concept of triangular citation that combines direct citation, co-citation and bibliographic coupling, and defines three kinds of literature used in triangular citation, namely, original Literature A, intermediary Literature B and following Literature C. Taking citation data from the CNKI database as the experimental sample, it was found that there are triangular citations in the actual citation network, with a high coverage rate. Additionally, the authors analyzed the triangular citation sample data from the different perspectives of reference time, literature type, impact factor, interdisciplinary citation, and the author’s self-citation, thereby finding the external characteristics of literature and internal trends of citation in the triangular citation. Additionally, it was concluded that the literature between A and C has an “indirect citation” mechanism. The citation characteristics of the two, i.e., A and C, are different from the direct citation relationship characteristics of A and B and B and C. The triangular citation proposed in this paper provides a new research perspective for bibliometrics, and it can be used to explore hidden literature relationships, citation mechanisms and citation motivations.