CitedKs

CitedKs is a conceptual framework proposed within certain academic and research communities to address the challenges of tracking and attributing contributions in collaborative and evolving knowledge creation processes. It is not a formal software tool or a universally adopted standard, but rather a theoretical model for understanding how individual pieces of knowledge, or "k," are cited and built upon over time. The core idea is to move beyond traditional citation counts for individual publications and instead focus on the granular referencing of specific ideas, data points, or methodologies that constitute the building blocks of new knowledge.

The concept of CitedKs suggests that by meticulously documenting which specific elements of prior work are incorporated into new research, a more nuanced understanding of intellectual lineage and impact can be achieved. This could potentially lead to more equitable recognition for contributors whose work is foundational but might be obscured within larger, more comprehensive publications. Proponents argue that a CitedK system, if developed, could enable better identification of influential ideas, facilitate more precise literature reviews, and potentially inform research funding and evaluation by highlighting the direct lineage of innovation. However, practical implementation of such a system faces significant hurdles, including the complexity of defining and isolating individual "k" units, the effort required for meticulous tracking, and the development of standardized methods for recording these granular citations.