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Improving the normalization effect of mean-based method from the perspective of optimization: optimization-based linear methods and their performance

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  • Zhihui Zhang

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Ying Cheng

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Nian Cai Liu

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

Abstract

Mean-based method may be the most popular linear method for field normalization of citation impact. However, the relatively good but not ideal performance of mean-based method, plus its being a special case of the general scaling method y = kx and the more general affine method y = kx + b, implies that more effective linear methods may exist. Under the idea of making the citation distribution of each field approximate a common reference distribution through the transformation of scaling method and affine method with unknown parameters k and b, we derived the scaling and affine methods under separate unweighted and weighted optimization models for 236 Web of Science subject categories. While the unweighted-optimization-based scaling and affine methods did not show full advantages over mean-based method, the weighted-optimization-based affine method showed a decided advantage over mean-based method along most parts of the distributions. At the same time, the trivial advantage of weighted-optimization-based scaling method over mean-based method indirectly validated the good normalization performance of mean-based method. Based on these results, we conclude that mean-based method is acceptable for general field normalization, but in the face of higher demands on normalization effect, the weighted-optimization-based affine method may be a better choice.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhihui Zhang & Ying Cheng & Nian Cai Liu, 2015. "Improving the normalization effect of mean-based method from the perspective of optimization: optimization-based linear methods and their performance," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 102(1), pages 587-607, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:102:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1007_s11192-014-1398-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-014-1398-0
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    1. Wang, Xing, 2024. "The misuse of the nonlinear field normalization method: Nonlinear field normalization citation counts at the paper level should not be added or averaged," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 18(3).

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