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Comparing scientific performance among equals

Author

Listed:
  • C. O. S. Sorzano

    (National Center of Biotechnology (CSIC)
    University CEU San Pablo)

  • J. Vargas

    (National Center of Biotechnology (CSIC))

  • G. Caffarena-Fernández

    (University CEU San Pablo)

  • A. Iriarte

    (University CEU San Pablo)

Abstract

Measuring scientific performance is currently a common practice of funding agencies, fellowship evaluations and hiring institutions. However, as has already been recognized by many authors, comparing the performance in different scientific fields is a difficult task due to the different publication and citation patterns observed in each field. In this article, we defend that scientific performance of an individual scientist, laboratory or institution should be analysed within the corresponding context and we provide objective tools to perform this kind of comparative analysis. The usage of the new tools is illustrated by using two control groups, to which several performance measurements are referred: one group being the Physics and Chemistry Nobel laureates from 2007 to 2012, the other group consisting of a list of outstanding scientists affiliated to two different institutions.

Suggested Citation

  • C. O. S. Sorzano & J. Vargas & G. Caffarena-Fernández & A. Iriarte, 2014. "Comparing scientific performance among equals," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 101(3), pages 1731-1745, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:101:y:2014:i:3:d:10.1007_s11192-014-1368-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-014-1368-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Zoltán Néda & Levente Varga & Tamás S Biró, 2017. "Science and Facebook: The same popularity law!," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(7), pages 1-11, July.
    5. Robert J Ellis & Zhiyan Duan & Ye Wang, 2014. "Quantifying Auditory Temporal Stability in a Large Database of Recorded Music," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(12), pages 1-24, December.
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    7. Abramo, Giovanni & Aksnes, Dag W. & D’Angelo, Ciriaco Andrea, 2021. "Gender differences in research performance within and between countries: Italy vs Norway," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 15(2).
    8. Lee Stapleton, 2015. "Do academics doubt their own research?," SPRU Working Paper Series 2015-24, SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex Business School.

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