What should be noted when citing one's own unpublished research results?

Citing one's own unpublished research results requires careful handling to maintain academic integrity and avoid issues of premature disclosure or plagiarism. This practice involves referencing work not formally peer-reviewed and published elsewhere, such as ongoing studies, internal reports, data, or conference abstracts. Key considerations include ensuring the cited material will indeed be submitted for formal publication elsewhere to preserve novelty; obtaining necessary permissions if the unpublished work involves collaborators or institutional data; clearly labeling citations as "unpublished," "in preparation," "forthcoming," or "in review" within the manuscript; and avoiding excessive citation that could substitute for original content or compromise the future publication's viability in certain journals. Disclosing the unpublished work's status within the text prevents misleading readers. Such citation can advance arguments, demonstrate ongoing research trajectory, or foster collaboration, provided it is done transparently and sparingly. Its primary value lies in ethically leveraging preparatory work within a specific manuscript, without undermining the integrity of the formal publication process for the cited findings. Excessive or opaque use risks self-plagiarism and journal rejection.