Lattices in citation networks: an investigation into the structure of citation graphs

Abstract

The main purposes of this article are to uncover interesting features in real-world citationnetworks, and to highlight important substructures. In particular, it applies lattice theory tocitation analysis. On the applied side, it shows that lattice substructures exist in real-word citationnetworks. It is further shown that, through its relations with co-citations and bibliographiccoupling, the diamond (a four-element lattice) is a basic structural element in citation analysis.Finally, citation compactness is calculated for the four- and five element lattices.