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Ranking scientists and departments in a consistent manner

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  • Denis Bouyssou
  • Thierry Marchant

Abstract

The standard data that we use when computing bibliometric rankings of scientists are their publication/ citation records, i.e., so many papers with 0 citation, so many with 1 citation, so many with 2 citations, etc. The standard data for bibliometric rankings of departments have the same structure. It is therefore tempting (and many authors gave in to temptation) to use the same method for computing rankings of scientists and rankings of departments. Depending on the method, this can yield quite surprising and unpleasant results. Indeed, with some methods, it may happen that the “best” department contains the “worst” scientists, and only them. This problem will not occur if the rankings satisfy a property called consistency, recently introduced in the literature. In this article, we explore the consequences of consistency and we characterize two families of consistent rankings.

Suggested Citation

  • Denis Bouyssou & Thierry Marchant, 2011. "Ranking scientists and departments in a consistent manner," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 62(9), pages 1761-1769, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jamist:v:62:y:2011:i:9:p:1761-1769
    DOI: 10.1002/asi.21544
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bouyssou, Denis & Marchant, Thierry, 2011. "Bibliometric rankings of journals based on Impact Factors: An axiomatic approach," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 5(1), pages 75-86.
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    6. Waltman, L. & van Eck, N.J.P., 2009. "A Taxonomy of Bibliometric Performance Indicators Based on the Property of Consistency," ERIM Report Series Research in Management ERS-2009-014-LIS, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
    7. Kinnucan, Henry W. & Traxler, Greg, 1994. "Ranking Agricultural Economics Departments by AJAE Page Counts: A Reappraisal," Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 23(2), pages 194-199, October.
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