Cited reference searching can tell you who has cited (referred to) previously published works. This allows you to:
Cited Reference searching can be done in many databases. However, the three databases below are particularly effective for this purpose. They search for cited references in journal articles. Each database indexes (or covers) different journals or other pools of content, such as conference proceedings. As a result, if being comprehensive is important, you will want to consult all three.
Access Scopus
Provides coverage in all subject areas with particular strength in the sciences. Coverage is back to 1996. Effective for finding post-1996 cited references for articles.
Please see these Scopus tutorials for more information.
Access Web of Science
The original and still most widely used database for cited reference searching. Purports to cover leading journals in all subject areas with coverage in science going back to 1899. Social Sciences coverage is 1898-present; humanities coverage is 1975-present. Its extensive backfiles make it particularly effective for finding cited references for older articles.
Instructions on using cited reference searching in Web of Science are available.
Access Google Scholar
Coverage of humanities and non-English language materials often stronger than Web of Science or Scopus. Depth and time span of indexing as well as journals covered are unknown. However, it does search grey literature and conference proceedings often missed by Web of Science and Scopus.
The following short video from the University of Ohio Libraries provides an overview of cited reference searching in Google Scholar.