Garfield's Law of Citation

Garfield's Law of Citation states that in scientific literature, citations tend to concentrate around a small number of highly influential papers. This means that research often references a core set of key studies, creating a cycle where these foundational works receive the most attention and further citations. As a result, a few important papers can dominate a field, while many other relevant studies are less frequently acknowledged. This pattern highlights how scholarly recognition and influence can become concentrated, shaping the development and visibility of research over time.