What is citation chaining?

Citation chaining means searching backwards and forwards in time for materials that are cited by and also that cite an article or resource you already have. One resource links you to another, which links you to another, and so on to create a chain of relevant literature.

This is a useful research tactic when you are working on a literature review since it helps you follow chains of related sources.

For example, let's say you've found a relevant article on your topic. You can make a chain of citations leading from that one article to both newer and older articles. 

Tip: articles published in the last few years might be too recent to have any other articles citing them. 

Resources cited in the article

• will be older than the article
• help you identify past resources on the same topic 
  (such as theories or classic articles)

Resources that cite the article

• will be newer than the article you've already found  
• help you identify more recent, relevant research  

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More information:

• How do I find books and articles that cite an article I already have?
• Learn how to find the full text of articles and books when you have the reference citation.
• How do I find an exact or specific article in the Library if I have the reference citation?
• Is there a way to automatically connect the Walden Library to Google Scholar?
• What is Document Delivery Service (DDS)?
   

Do you need other Library research help?  Ask a Librarian!