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Bibliometric profile of top-cited single-author articles in the Science Citation Index Expanded

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  • Chuang, Kun-Yang
  • Ho, Yuh-Shan

Abstract

In this study, we identified and analyzed characteristics of top-cited single-author articles published in the Science Citation Index Expanded from 1991 to 2010. A top-cited single-author article was defined as an article that had been cited at least 1000 times from the time of its publication to 2012. Results showed that 1760 top-cited single-author articles were published in 539 journals listed in 130 Web of Science categories between 1901 and 2010. The top productive journal was Science and the most productive category was multidisciplinary physics. Most of the articles were not published in high-impact journals. Harvard University led all other institutions in publishing top-cited single-author articles. Nobel Prize winners contributed 7.0% of articles. In total, 72 Nobel Prize winners published 124 single-author articles. Single-authored papers published in different periods exhibited different patterns of citation trends. However, top-cited articles consistently showed repetitive peaks regardless of the time period of publication. “Theory (or theories)” was the most frequently appeared title word of all time. Leading title words varied at different time periods, and only five title words, method(s), protein(s), structure(s), molecular, and quantum consistently remained in the top 20 in different time periods.

Suggested Citation

  • Chuang, Kun-Yang & Ho, Yuh-Shan, 2014. "Bibliometric profile of top-cited single-author articles in the Science Citation Index Expanded," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 8(4), pages 951-962.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:infome:v:8:y:2014:i:4:p:951-962
    DOI: 10.1016/j.joi.2014.09.008
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yuh-Shan Ho & Michael Kahn, 2014. "A bibliometric study of highly cited reviews in the Science Citation Index expanded-super-™," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 65(2), pages 372-385, February.
    2. Helmut A. Abt, 2007. "The future of single-authored papers," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 73(3), pages 353-358, December.
    3. Tianzhu Tao & Lulong Bo & Fei Wang & Jinbao Li & Xiaoming Deng, 2012. "Equal contributions and credit given to authors in anesthesiology journals during a 10-year period," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 91(3), pages 1005-1010, June.
    4. Ling-Li Li & Guohua Ding & Nan Feng & Ming-Huang Wang & Yuh-Shan Ho, 2009. "Global stem cell research trend: Bibliometric analysis as a tool for mapping of trends from 1991 to 2006," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 80(1), pages 39-58, July.
    5. Xiaojun Hu, 2009. "Loads of special authorship functions: Linear growth in the percentage of “equal first authors” and corresponding authors," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 60(11), pages 2378-2381, November.
    6. Kun-Yang Chuang & Ming-Huang Wang & Yuh-Shan Ho, 2011. "High-impact papers presented in the subject category of water resources in the essential science indicators database of the institute for scientific information," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 87(3), pages 551-562, June.
    7. Yuh-Shan Ho, 2013. "The top-cited research works in the Science Citation Index Expanded," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 94(3), pages 1297-1312, March.
    8. Shaodong Xie & Jing Zhang & Yuh-Shan Ho, 2008. "Assessment of world aerosol research trends by bibliometric analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 77(1), pages 113-130, October.
    9. Wen-Ta Chiu & Yuh-Shan Ho, 2005. "Bibliometric analysis of homeopathy research during the period of 1991 to 2003," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 63(1), pages 3-23, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Sangwal, Keshra, 2015. "On the growth dynamics of citations of articles by some Nobel Prize winners," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 9(3), pages 466-476.
    2. Rossello, Giulia & Cowan, Robin & Mairesse, Jacques, 2020. "Ph.D. research output in STEM: the role of gender and race in supervision," MERIT Working Papers 2020-021, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    3. Elisabeth Maria Schlagberger & Lutz Bornmann & Johann Bauer, 2016. "At what institutions did Nobel laureates do their prize-winning work? An analysis of biographical information on Nobel laureates from 1994 to 2014," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 109(2), pages 723-767, November.
    4. Giulia Rossello & Robin Cowan & Jacques Mairesse, 2024. "Ph.D. publication productivity: the role of gender and race in supervision in South Africa," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 61(3), pages 215-227, June.

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