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Empirical study of the growth dynamics in real career h-index sequences

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  • Wu, Jiang
  • Lozano, Sergi
  • Helbing, Dirk

Abstract

Based on historical citation data from the ISI Web of Science, this paper introduces a methodology to automatically calculate and classify the real career h-index sequences of scientists. Such a classification is based on the convexity–concavity features of the different temporal segments of h-index sequences. Five categories are identified, namely convex, concave, S-shaped, IS-shaped and linear. As a case study, the h-index sequences of several Nobel Prize winners in Medicine, Chemistry and Economics are investigated. Two proposed factors influencing the growth of the h-index, namely the “freshness” of the h-index core and changes in the rank positions of papers near the h-index point are studied. It is found that the h-index core's “freshness” is particularly relevant to the growth of the h-index. Moreover, although in general more publications lead to an increase of the h-index, the key role is played by those papers near the h-index point.

Suggested Citation

  • Wu, Jiang & Lozano, Sergi & Helbing, Dirk, 2011. "Empirical study of the growth dynamics in real career h-index sequences," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 5(4), pages 489-497.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:infome:v:5:y:2011:i:4:p:489-497
    DOI: 10.1016/j.joi.2011.02.003
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ye, Fred Y. & Rousseau, Ronald, 2008. "The power law model and total career h-index sequences," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 2(4), pages 288-297.
    2. Quentin L. Burrell, 2007. "Hirsch index or Hirsch rate? Some thoughts arising from Liang’s data," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 73(1), pages 19-28, October.
    3. Liming Liang, 2006. "h-index sequence and h-index matrix: Constructions and applications," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 69(1), pages 153-159, October.
    4. Leo Egghe, 2009. "Comparative study of h-index sequences," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 81(2), pages 311-320, November.
    5. Burrell, Quentin L., 2007. "Hirsch's h-index: A stochastic model," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 1(1), pages 16-25.
    6. Liu, Yuxian & Rousseau, Ronald, 2008. "Definitions of time series in citation analysis with special attention to the h-index," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 2(3), pages 202-210.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

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    4. Liu, Yu & Yang, Yongliang, 2014. "Empirical study of L-Sequence: The basic h-index sequence for cumulative publications with consideration of the yearly citation performance," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 8(3), pages 478-485.
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