You are here: Home > Research > Patent Citation Data in Social Science Research: Overview and Best Practices
Jaffe, A. & de Rassenfosse, G., 2017. "Patent Citation Data in Social Science Research: Overview and Best Practices". Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology 68(6): 1360-1374.
Abstract
The last 2 decades have witnessed a dramatic increase in the use of patent citation data in social science research. Facilitated by digitization of the patent data and increasing computing power, a community of practice has grown up that has developed methods for using these data to: measure attributes of innovations such as impact and originality; to trace flows of knowledge across individuals, institutions and regions; and to map innovation networks. The objective of this article is threefold. First, it takes stock of these main uses. Second, it discusses 4 pitfalls associated with patent citation data, related to office, time and technology, examiner, and strategic effects. Third, it highlights gaps in our understanding and offers directions for future research.
Keywords: backward references, knowledge spillovers, non-patent literature, patent citation network, patent value, patent quality
Download the published version
Download the reference to a citation manager (.ris file format)
This article: