1. Self-citation: Self-citation refers to the author quoting his previously published papers or works in his own works. Self-citation can be used to emphasize the importance of a certain viewpoint, concept or method, or to prove the authority of the author in a certain field. To some extent, self-citation reflects the author's recognition and confidence in his research results. However, excessive self-citation may give readers a negative impression that the author is too boastful or lacks respect for the work of other scholars. Therefore, when using self-citation, the author needs to be moderate and ensure that it is related to the theme and argument of the paper.
2. References: References refer to the research results of other scholars cited when writing academic papers or reports. The main function of references is to provide theoretical basis, data support or research background for the paper, thus enhancing the credibility and persuasiveness of the paper. References reflect the author's respect and recognition for the work of other scholars, and are also an important way of academic exchange. A high-quality bibliography should include documents that are closely related to the theme of the paper and have certain authority and academic value. At the same time, the citation format of references should also follow the corresponding specifications, such as APA and MLA.
In a word, self-citation and citation have different functions and meanings in academic research. Self-citation is mainly used to emphasize the author's own viewpoints and methods, while references are used to support argumentation and improve the quality of papers. When using these two citation methods, the author should pay attention to moderation and follow the norms to ensure the quality and academic value of the paper.