Title
Persistence of Web References in Scientific Research
Abstract
Invalid URLs can lead to important data loss as cited works and research findings gradually disappear from circulation. The lack of persistence of Web references leads researchers to question whether publications should even include URL citations. To minimize the future loss of information, the authors review new long-term strategies for managing Internet resources and suggest several ways to improve citation practices. Their analysis of references to Web resources in 270,977 computer science publications revealed that URL citations have increased, but many are now invalid. The authors were, however, able to relocate most invalid Web references using two searches. They analyzed the missing links and identified reasons why URLs become invalid.
Year
DOI
Venue
2001
10.1109/2.901164
IEEE Computer
Keywords
DocType
Volume
URL citation,Web reference,Web resource,invalid Web reference,Invalid URLs,future loss,important data loss,Internet resource,citation practice,computer science publication,Scientific Research,Web References
Journal
34
Issue
ISSN
Citations 
2
0018-9162
65
PageRank 
References 
Authors
6.19
11
9
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Steve Lawrence16194872.30
David M. Pennock23823451.85
Gary William Flake31268155.57
Robert Krovetz481797.09
Frans M. Coetzee5819.27
Eric J. Glover6787.70
Finn Årup Nielsen737336.16
Andries Kruger812512.33
C. Lee Giles9111541549.48