Citation chaining means using a source’s references and later publications that cite it to find further material. It can help you explore related research, follow the development of ideas and find additional reading for an assessment.
Use this guide to follow references backwards and citations forwards, then judge which sources are relevant to your task.
For broader guidance on planning and developing searches, see Search effectively.
Citation chaining is the process of using one good source to find other useful sources.
There are two main types:
Backward chaining – checking the references or bibliography of a source
Forward chaining – finding newer sources that have cited the one you’re reading
Used together, these approaches help you explore connections between publications. You still need to evaluate each source before deciding whether to use it.
Citation chaining is especially useful when:
You find a key article, chapter, or book and want to explore related sources
You’re building a literature review or working on a dissertation
You need to understand how ideas or debates have evolved over time
You’re exploring a niche or emerging topic where sources are harder to find
You want to find later discussion of a source’s findings, methods or argument
Use citation chaining when following a source’s references or later citations would help you answer your question. It can support additional reading for an assessment as well as more extensive research. You do not need to follow every citation.
If you are developing a dissertation or project topic, see Checking literature for your dissertation topic for help judging how existing literature could support it.
Start with a source relevant to your question. It may be recent research, an important earlier publication or a source from your reading list. Then:
Check the references or bibliography at the end
Identify key sources that the author used
Search for those sources using LibrarySearch or a subject database
Why it’s useful: Helps you understand the foundation of the author’s thinking and find earlier important works.
Use a citation-searching service to find publications that have cited a source.
Look at how the later publication uses the earlier source. It may build on its findings, challenge its methods or simply mention it.
If no citing publications appear, try another appropriate service before concluding that none exist. Citation coverage differs between tools.
Several tools can help you follow references and citations:
Publisher websites may also provide reference lists and links to citing publications.
Citation links depend on the records and reference data available to each service. No single tool provides every citation, and a missing link does not establish that no citation exists.
Choose tools appropriate to your subject and task. See the Library’s Search and discovery tools guide for coverage, access and fuller guidance.
Some publisher platforms also support citation chaining — but in a more limited way.
They typically:
Show reference lists (backward chaining)
Sometimes show “Cited by” links — depending on data from Scopus, CrossRef, or their own systems
Only include citations within their own collection — so the trail stops at the platform boundary
Examples: ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, JSTOR, Westlaw
Tip: Start with broader tools like Google Scholar or Scopus to find citation paths — then use publisher platforms to access full text or check context.
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Topic: Sleep and anxiety in university students
You find this article:
Alvaro, P. K., Roberts, R. M., & Harris, J. K. (2013).
A systematic review assessing bidirectionality between sleep disturbances, anxiety, and depression. Sleep, 36(7), 1059–1068.
Backward chaining
Check the review’s reference list for earlier studies that may help with your question. Retrieve potentially relevant studies and check their populations, methods and findings. Research on a broader population may provide context, but should not automatically be treated as evidence about university students.
Forward chaining
Search for the review’s title in Google Scholar and select Cited by. Examine potentially relevant later publications and check how they use the review: do they build on it, challenge it or mention it for background?
A citation is a lead to investigate. It does not establish that a source is reliable, relevant or endorsed by the author citing it.
Ask:
Is this the kind of evidence your assessment or research question requires?
Is its date appropriate for my purpose, or do I need newer evidence alongside it?
Does it actually relate to your topic?
How has the citing author used it: as supporting evidence, background, a method or something to challenge?
Read and evaluate the original source before using it. See Evaluate information for guidance on examining its evidence, relevance and limitations.
A citation trail starting from one source may miss other perspectives or research that is not connected to it. Use other appropriate search routes alongside citation chaining when your task requires wider coverage.
Still not feeling confident? That’s okay — we’re here to support you.
Email us: library@abertay.ac.uk for one-to-one advice
Last modified by Student and Academic Services