Weak Correlation Strength
The study acknowledges the low R-squared values, indicating weak correlation strength. While a large sample size is used to argue for representativeness, the weak correlations suggest the analyzed factors have a limited influence on citation rates, raising questions about the robustness of the findings.
Over-Reliance on Citation Counts
While alternative metrics are mentioned, the study primarily relies on citation counts. This neglects the broader context of research impact and the limitations of citation-based metrics, which are increasingly recognized.
The study focuses on tribology journals, limiting the generalizability of the findings to other disciplines. The influence of the analyzed factors on citations could vary significantly across different fields of research.
Incomplete Analysis of Influencing Factors
While some factors like manuscript length and number of references are considered, other potential factors (e.g., article novelty, research design, and methodological rigor) are not examined, which may play more important roles in determining citation count.