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The h-index as an almost-exact function of some basic statistics

Author

Listed:
  • Lucio Bertoli-Barsotti

    (University of Bergamo)

  • Tommaso Lando

    (VŠB -TU Ostrava)

Abstract

As is known, the h-index, h, is an exact function of the citation pattern. At the same time, and more generally, it is recognized that h is “loosely” related to the values of some basic statistics, such as the number of publications and the number of citations. In the present study we introduce a formula that expresses the h-index as an almost-exact function of some (four) basic statistics. On the basis of an empirical study—in which we consider citation data obtained from two different lists of journals from two quite different scientific fields—we provide evidence that our ready-to-use formula is able to predict the h-index very accurately (at least for practical purposes). For comparative reasons, alternative estimators of the h-index have been considered and their performance evaluated by drawing on the same dataset. We conclude that, in addition to its own interest, as an effective proxy representation of the h-index, the formula introduced may provide new insights into “factors” determining the value of the h-index, and how they interact with each other.

Suggested Citation

  • Lucio Bertoli-Barsotti & Tommaso Lando, 2017. "The h-index as an almost-exact function of some basic statistics," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 113(2), pages 1209-1228, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:113:y:2017:i:2:d:10.1007_s11192-017-2508-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-017-2508-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Chrisovalantis Malesios, 2015. "Some variations on the standard theoretical models for the h-index: A comparative analysis," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 66(11), pages 2384-2388, November.
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    10. Lucio Bertoli-Barsotti & Tommaso Lando, 2017. "A theoretical model of the relationship between the h-index and other simple citation indicators," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 111(3), pages 1415-1448, June.
    11. Burrell, Quentin L., 2013. "A stochastic approach to the relation between the impact factor and the uncitedness factor," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 7(3), pages 676-682.
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    Cited by:

    1. David A. Groneberg & Doris Klingelhöfer & Dörthe Brüggmann & Cristian Scutaru & Axel Fischer & David Quarcoo, 2019. "New quality and quantity indices in science (NewQIS): results of the first decade—project progress review," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 121(1), pages 451-478, October.
    2. Biró, Tamás S. & Telcs, András & Józsa, Máté & Néda, Zoltán, 2023. "Gintropic scaling of scientometric indexes," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 618(C).
    3. Mingyang Wang & Shijia Jiao & Kah-Hin Chai & Guangsheng Chen, 2019. "Building journal’s long-term impact: using indicators detected from the sustained active articles," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 121(1), pages 261-283, October.
    4. Marek Gagolewski & Barbara Żogała-Siudem & Grzegorz Siudem & Anna Cena, 2022. "Ockham’s index of citation impact," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 127(5), pages 2829-2845, May.
    5. Bertoli-Barsotti, Lucio & Lando, Tommaso, 2019. "How mean rank and mean size may determine the generalised Lorenz curve: With application to citation analysis," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 13(1), pages 387-396.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    h-Index; Journal ranking; Weibull distribution; Lambert W function;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C46 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods: Special Topics - - - Specific Distributions

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