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Analyze citation networks, impact metrics, and bibliometric patterns
Passed 20 of 22 test cases with the skill, and 19 of 22 without it.
1 fixed19 passed either way2 still failing0 broke
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A test case the skill fixed. Same model, same prompt, with and without the skill.
Which NetworkX algorithm function allows quick detection of non-overlapping research clusters/communities in an undirected citation network?
| Checked | Without skill | With skill |
|---|---|---|
| Uses greedy_modularity_communities for community detection | Missed | Passed |
The instructions your model reads when the skill loads.
Citation networks encode the intellectual structure of scientific fields. By analyzing who cites whom, how ideas propagate, and where research clusters form, researchers can identify foundational papers, emerging trends, influential authors, and gaps in the literature that represent opportunities for new contributions.
This guide covers the theory and practice of citation network analysis: building networks from bibliographic data, computing standard metrics (h-index, impact factor, PageRank, betweenness centrality), visualizing network structure, and interpreting results. It also covers altmetrics -- alternative impact measures that capture attention beyond traditional citations.
Whether you are conducting a systematic literature review, mapping a new research area, evaluating potential collaborators, or assessing the impact of your own work, citation network analysis provides quantitative tools to complement qualitative judgment.
| Network Type | Nodes | Edges | Question Answered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct citation | Papers | Paper A cites Paper B | Which papers directly build on each other? |
| Co-citation | Papers | A and B are both cited by C | Which papers are perceived as related? |
| Bibliographic coupling | Papers | A and B both cite C | Which papers share intellectual foundations? |
| Author co-citation | Authors | Two authors are frequently co-cited | Which researchers are seen as working in the same area? |
| Author collaboration | Authors | Two authors co-authored a paper | Who works together? |
| Metric | Level | Definition | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citation count | Paper | Number of times cited | Raw impact |
| h-index | Author | h papers with >= h citations | Sustained productivity |
| Impact Factor | Journal | Mean citations to recent articles | Journal prestige |
| PageRank | Paper/Author | Iterative importance based on network position | Influence (weighted by citing paper importance) |
| Betweenness centrality | Paper | Frequency on shortest paths between other nodes | Bridging role between subfields |
| Burst detection | Paper/Term | Sudden increase in citations/usage | Emerging topic |
| Source | Coverage | API | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | 250M+ works, all disciplines | REST API, free | Free (no key required) |
test cases passed, vs 19 / 22 without
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