Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Characteristic scores and scales in a Lotkaian framework

  • Published:
Scientometrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The characteristic scores and scales (CSS), introduced by Glänzel and Schubert (J Inform Sci 14:123–127, 1988) and further studied in subsequent papers of Glänzel, can be calculated exactly in a Lotkaian framework. We prove that these CSS are simple exponents of the average number of items per source in general IPPs. The proofs are given using size-frequency functions as well as using rank-frequency functions. We note that CSS do not necessarily have to be defined as averages but that medians can be used as well. Also for these CSS we present exact formulae in the Lotkaian framework and both types of CSS are compared. We also link these formulae with the h-index.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Egghe, L. (2005). Power laws in the information production process: Lotkaian informetrics. Oxford: Elsevier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Egghe, L., & Rousseau, R. (2006). An informetric model for the Hirsch-index. Scientometrics, 69(1), 121–129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glänzel, W. (2008). What are your best papers? ISSI Newsletter, 4(4), 64–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glänzel, W. (2009). The role of the h-index and the characteristic scores and scales in testing the tail properties of scientometric distributions. Proceedings of the 12th International Conference of the International Society for Scientometrics and Informetrics, in press.

  • Glänzel, W., & Schubert, A. (1988). Characteristic scores and scales in assessing citation impact. Journal of Information Science, 14, 123–127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hirsch, J. E. (2005). An index to quantify an individual’s scientific research output. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 102(6), 16569–16572.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universiteit Hasselt (UHasselt), Campus Diepenbeek, Agoralaan, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium

    L. Egghe

Authors
  1. L. Egghe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to L. Egghe.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Egghe, L. Characteristic scores and scales in a Lotkaian framework. Scientometrics 83, 455–462 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-009-0009-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-009-0009-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation