# Past, Present, and Future of Citation Practices in HCI

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2405.16526 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2405.16526/

## Key facts

- Cited by 2 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 26 May 2024.

## Built on by (most cited first, 2 of 2)

- [SciEvo: A 2 Million, 30-Year Cross-disciplinary Dataset for Temporal Scientometric Analysis](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2410.09510/) (2024)
- [What Do We Mean by 'Pilot Study': Early Findings from a Meta-Review of Pilot Study Reporting at CHI](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2602.13488/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Science is a complex system comprised of many scientists who individually make decisions that, due to the size and nature of the academic system, largely do not affect the system as a whole. However, certain decisions at the meso-level of research communities, such as the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) community, may result in deep and long-lasting behavioral changes in scientists. In this article, we provide empirical evidence on how a change in editorial policies introduced at the ACM CHI Conference in 2016 destabilized the CHI research community and launched it on an expansive path, denoted by a year-by-year increase in the mean number of references included in CHI articles. If this near-linear trend continues undisrupted, an article at CHI 2030 will include on average almost 130 references. The trend toward more citations reflects a citation culture where quantity is prioritized over quality, contributing to both author and peer reviewer fatigue. Our exploratory analysis highlights the profound impact of meso-level policy adjustments on the evolution of scientific fields and disciplines, urging all stakeholders to carefully consider the broader implications of such changes.