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Properties of Hirsch-type indices: the case of library classification categories

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Abstract

We present an application of the h-index in a context which does not include publications or citations. Rankings of library classification categories using the h-, g-and R-index are shown to be statistically equivalent. Moreover these indices seem to have the same discriminating power, as measured by the Gini concentration index. We further present best fitting Zipf-Mandelbrot functions for the h-distributions of classifications in different libraries.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Catalogue Section, Library of Tongji University, Siping Street 1239, 200092, Shanghai, P.R. China

    Yuxian Liu

  2. Department of Industrial Sciences and Technology, KHBO (Association K.U.Leuven), Zeedijk 101, B-8400, Oostende, Belgium

    Ronald Rousseau

  3. University of Antwerp (UA), City Campus, IBW, B-2000, Antwerp, Belgium

    Yuxian Liu & Ronald Rousseau

  4. Hasselt University (UHasselt), Agoralaan, Building D, B-3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium

    Ronald Rousseau

Authors
  1. Yuxian Liu
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  2. Ronald Rousseau
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Correspondence to Yuxian Liu.

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Liu, Y., Rousseau, R. Properties of Hirsch-type indices: the case of library classification categories. Scientometrics 79, 235–248 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-009-0415-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-009-0415-1

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