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Modelling successive h-indices

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Abstract

From a list of papers of an author, ranked in decreasing order of the number of citations to these papers one can calculate this author’s Hirsch index (or h-index). If this is done for a group of authors (e.g. from the same institute) then we can again list these authors in decreasing order of their h-indices and from this, one can calculate the h-index of (part of) this institute. One can go even further by listing institutes in a country in decreasing order of their h-indices and calculate again the h-index as described above. Such h-indices are called by Schubert [2007] “successive” h-indices.

In this paper we present a model for such successive h-indices based on our existing theory on the distribution of the h-index in Lotkaian informetrics. We show that, each step, involves the multiplication of the exponent of the previous h-index by 1/α where α > 1 is a Lotka exponent. We explain why, in general, successive h-indices are decreasing.

We also introduce a global h-index for which tables of individuals (authors, institutes,...) are merged.

We calculate successive and global h-indices for the (still active) D. De Solla Price awardees.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    Leo Egghe

  2. Campus Drie Eiken, Universiteit Antwerpen (UA), Wilrijk, Belgium

    Leo Egghe

  3. Campus Diepenbeek, Universiteit Hasselt (UHasselt), Agoralaan, B-3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium

    Leo Egghe

Authors
  1. Leo Egghe
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Correspondence to Leo Egghe.

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Egghe, L. Modelling successive h-indices. Scientometrics 77, 377–387 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-007-1968-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-007-1968-5

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