Citation analysis of the M.Sc theses in the field of agriculture at Bu-Ali Sina University during 2001-2011

The aim of this research is to determine citation behavior of writers of M.Sc. theses in agriculture field, and to specify behavioral patterns,(informational language, and temporal) that are used by them.
This is a bibliometrics research (by use of citation analysis technique) that uses content analysis method. Statistical population of this research includes all of the present citations at reference section of Bu-Ali Sina University M.Sc. theses in agriculture field during years of 2001-2011(3370 citations). The required information was compiled by use of special cards, Citation analysis and library studies and defects were eliminated by visiting different websites and union catalogue of libraries of Bu-Ali Sina University. Afterwards, data was analyzed by descriptive statistics, and using SPSS19, Excel 2007.
Findings: Citation to native sources is more than foreign ones. Citations to Latin journals (69.15%) are more than Persian Journals (30.85%).
the study revealed that books and other print materials are prior in use. Hence, use of Internet is increasing.