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Does the h index for assessing single publications really work? A case study on papers published in chemistry

Author

Listed:
  • Lutz Bornmann

    (Max Planck Society)

  • Hermann Schier

    (Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research)

  • Werner Marx

    (Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research)

  • Hans-Dieter Daniel

    (ETH Zurich, Professorship for Social Psychology and Research on Higher Education
    University of Zurich, Evaluation Office)

Abstract

Schubert (Scientometrics, 78:559–565, 2009) showed that “a Hirsch-type index can be used for assessing single highly cited publications by calculating the h index of the set of papers citing the work in question” (p. 559). To demonstrate that this single publication h index is a useful yardstick to compare the quality of different publications; the index should be strongly related to the assessment by peers. In a comprehensive research project we investigated the peer review process of the Angewandte Chemie International Edition. The data set contains manuscripts reviewed in the year 2000 and accepted by the journal or rejected but published elsewhere. Single publication h index values were calculated for a total of 1,814 manuscripts. The results show a correlation in the expected direction between peer assessments and single publication h index values: After publication, manuscripts with positive ratings by the journal’s reviewers show on average higher h index values than manuscripts with negative ratings by reviewers (and later published elsewhere). However, our findings do not support Schubert’s (2009) assumption that the additional dimension of indirect citation influence contributes to a more refined picture of the most cited papers.

Suggested Citation

  • Lutz Bornmann & Hermann Schier & Werner Marx & Hans-Dieter Daniel, 2011. "Does the h index for assessing single publications really work? A case study on papers published in chemistry," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 89(3), pages 835-843, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:89:y:2011:i:3:d:10.1007_s11192-011-0472-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-011-0472-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bornmann, Lutz & Marx, Werner & Schier, Hermann & Rahm, Erhard & Thor, Andreas & Daniel, Hans-Dieter, 2009. "Convergent validity of bibliometric Google Scholar data in the field of chemistry—Citation counts for papers that were accepted by Angewandte Chemie International Edition or rejected but published els," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 3(1), pages 27-35.
    2. Franceschini, Fiorenzo & Maisano, Domenico A., 2010. "Analysis of the Hirsch index's operational properties," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 203(2), pages 494-504, June.
    3. András Schubert, 2009. "Using the h-index for assessing single publications," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 78(3), pages 559-565, March.
    4. van Eck, N.J.P. & Waltman, L., 2008. "Generalizing the h- and g-indices," ERIM Report Series Research in Management ERS-2008-049-LIS, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
    5. Lutz Bornmann & Christophe Weymuth & Hans-Dieter Daniel, 2010. "A content analysis of referees’ comments: how do comments on manuscripts rejected by a high-impact journal and later published in either a low- or high-impact journal differ?," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 83(2), pages 493-506, May.
    6. van Eck, Nees Jan & Waltman, Ludo, 2008. "Generalizing the h- and g-indices," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 2(4), pages 263-271.
    7. Lutz Bornmann & Rüdiger Mutz & Werner Marx & Hermann Schier & Hans‐Dieter Daniel, 2011. "A multilevel modelling approach to investigating the predictive validity of editorial decisions: do the editors of a high profile journal select manuscripts that are highly cited after publication?," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 174(4), pages 857-879, October.
    8. Lutz Bornmann & Hans‐Dieter Daniel, 2007. "What do we know about the h index?," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 58(9), pages 1381-1385, July.
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