For academics navigating the complex world of scholarly publishing, selecting the right journal is a critical decision. Beyond impact factors and scope, one metric that often raises questions is a journal's self-citation rate. While some degree of self-citation is natural, an unusually high rate can be a significant "red flag" regarding a journal's quality and ethical practices.

This comprehensive guide will explore why a high journal self-citation rate is generally viewed negatively, under what circumstances it might be justifiable, and how researchers can evaluate this metric when choosing where to submit their work.

Why a High Journal Self-Citation Rate is Usually a Bad Sign

An excessively high self-citation rate is a strong indicator of potential issues within a journal, primarily because it suggests:

1. Impact Factor Manipulation: This is the most common and serious concern. Some journals intentionally encourage or coerce authors to cite articles previously published within the same journal. This artificially inflates their Impact Factor (JIF) or CiteScore, misleading authors about the journal's true influence.

2. Coercive Citation Practices: Journal editors or reviewers might "suggest" that authors add citations from their journal, even if the relevance to the submitted manuscript is marginal. Authors, keen for their work to be published, often comply, leading to unethical citation practices.

3. Intellectual Isolation: A healthy academic journal should engage broadly with the global scientific discourse, citing and being cited by a diverse range of publications. A high self-citation rate might indicate a narrow, insular research community with limited interaction outside its own publication.

4. Risk of Suppression/Delisting by Major Databases: Reputable databases like Clarivate's Web of Science (publisher of JCR) and Elsevier's Scopus (publisher of CiteScore) actively monitor self-citation rates. Journals exhibiting abnormally high rates can be flagged, have self-citations excluded from impact factor calculations, or, in severe cases, be suppressed or delisted from these databases entirely.

When is a Higher Self-Citation Rate Understandable?

While caution is advised, some level of self-citation is normal and, in specific contexts, even justifiable:

1. Highly Specialized or Niche Fields: In very narrow or emerging research areas, a leading journal might publish most of the foundational and critical works. Subsequent papers in that field would naturally need to cite these seminal articles, which are often found within the same journal.

2. Publication of Foundational Work: If a journal has historically published many groundbreaking papers that became "classic" references for the field, authors will continue to cite these key works regardless of where they were originally published.

3. Special Issues or Thematic Collections: When a journal dedicates a special issue to a specific hot topic, articles within that issue often build upon each other and cite previous related works from the same journal, leading to a temporary increase in self-citation.

How to Evaluate "High": A General Guideline

There's no single, absolute threshold for what constitutes a "high" self-citation rate, as it varies by discipline. However, a general rule of thumb can be applied:

• Below 15%: Generally considered a healthy and normal range.

• 15% - 25%: Often acceptable, particularly for highly specialized journals.

• 25% - 40%: This is a grey area and warrants closer scrutiny. Further investigation into the journal's field and reputation is recommended.

• Above 40%: Typically considered a strong red flag, suggesting potential manipulation of metrics.

Advice for Researchers and Authors

As an author, it's crucial to make informed decisions about where to submit your valuable research. When evaluating a journal:

1. Check Official Metrics: Consult Journal Citation Reports (JCR) for the journal's Impact Factor and the Impact Factor excluding self-citations. A significant difference between these two figures is a warning sign. Similarly, check Scopus for CiteScore data with and without self-citations.

2. Consult Senior Colleagues: Ask experienced professors or researchers in your field for their insights. They often have firsthand knowledge of journals with questionable practices.

3. Prioritize Long-Term Value: Don't be swayed solely by a high impact factor. Choose journals with transparent editorial processes, a strong academic reputation, and genuine peer recognition. These choices contribute more significantly to your long-term academic credibility.

In summary: While some self-citation is inevitable, an abnormally high rate is usually a negative indicator. It often points not to specialized excellence, but to potential issues of academic integrity aimed at artificially boosting metrics. Researchers should prioritize journals that operate transparently and maintain a strong, independent reputation.