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Do we need the h index and its variants in addition to standard bibliometric measures?

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  • Lutz Bornmann
  • Rüdiger Mutz
  • Hans‐Dieter Daniel

Abstract

In this study, we investigate whether there is a need for the h index and its variants in addition to standard bibliometric measures (SBMs). Results from our recent study (L. Bornmann, R. Mutz, & H.‐D. Daniel, 2008) have indicated that there are two types of indices: One type of indices (e.g., h index) describes the most productive core of a scientist's output and informs about the number of papers in the core. The other type of indices (e.g., a index) depicts the impact of the papers in the core. In evaluative bibliometric studies, the two dimensions quantity and quality of output are usually assessed using the SBMs “number of publications” (for the quantity dimension) and “total citation counts” (for the impact dimension). We additionally included the SBMs into the factor analysis. The results of the newly calculated analysis indicate that there is a high intercorrelation between “number of publications” and the indices that load substantially on the factor Quantity of the Productive Core as well as between “total citation counts” and the indices that load substantially on the factor Impact of the Productive Core. The high‐loading indices and SBMs within one performance dimension could be called redundant in empirical application, as high intercorrelations between different indicators are a sign for measuring something similar (or the same). Based on our findings, we propose the use of any pair of indicators (one relating to the number of papers in a researcher's productive core and one relating to the impact of these core papers) as a meaningful approach for comparing scientists.

Suggested Citation

  • Lutz Bornmann & Rüdiger Mutz & Hans‐Dieter Daniel, 2009. "Do we need the h index and its variants in addition to standard bibliometric measures?," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 60(6), pages 1286-1289, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:jamist:v:60:y:2009:i:6:p:1286-1289
    DOI: 10.1002/asi.21016
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Asma Hammami & Nabil Semmar, 2022. "The simplex simulation as a tool to reveal publication strategies and citation factors," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 127(1), pages 319-350, January.
    2. Brito, Ricardo & Navarro, Alonso Rodríguez, 2021. "The inconsistency of h-index: A mathematical analysis," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 15(1).
    3. Schreiber, M. & Malesios, C.C. & Psarakis, S., 2012. "Exploratory factor analysis for the Hirsch index, 17 h-type variants, and some traditional bibliometric indicators," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 6(3), pages 347-358.
    4. Bornmann, Lutz & Mutz, Rüdiger & Daniel, Hans-Dieter, 2010. "The h index research output measurement: Two approaches to enhance its accuracy," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 4(3), pages 407-414.
    5. Madiha Ameer & Muhammad Tanvir Afzal, 2019. "Evaluation of h-index and its qualitative and quantitative variants in Neuroscience," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 121(2), pages 653-673, November.
    6. Alaminos, David & Guillén-Pujadas, Miguel & Vizuete-Luciano, Emili & Merigó, José María, 2024. "What is going on with studies on financial speculation? Evidence from a bibliometric analysis," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 89(PB), pages 429-445.
    7. Muzammil Tahira & Rose Alinda Alias & Aryati Bakri & A. Abrizah, 2016. "Meso-level institutional and journal related indices for Malaysian engineering research," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 107(2), pages 521-535, May.
    8. Vizuete-Luciano, Emili & Guillén-Pujadas, Miguel & Alaminos, David & Merigó-Lindahl, José María, 2023. "Taxi and urban mobility studies: A bibliometric analysis," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 144-155.
    9. Peter Jacso, 2012. "Grim tales about the impact factor and the h-index in the Web of Science and the Journal Citation Reports databases: reflections on Vanclay’s criticism," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 92(2), pages 325-354, August.
    10. Johannes Hönekopp & Julie Khan, 2012. "Future publication success in science is better predicted by traditional measures than by the h index," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 90(3), pages 843-853, March.

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