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The influence of random removal of sources and items on the h-index

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Abstract

If we have two information production processes with the same h-index, random removal of items causes one system to have a higher h-index than the other system while random removal of sources causes the opposite effect. In a Lotkaian framework we prove formulae for the h-index in case of random removal of items and in case of random removal of sources. In conclusion, we warn for the use of the h-index in case of incomplete data sets.

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Acknowledgment

The author is grateful for the constructive suggestions of two referees. More in particular I thank Prof. Q.L. Burrell for the permission to add the “important remark” after the third section.

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    L. Egghe

  2. Universiteit Antwerpen (UA), IBW, Stadscampus, Venusstraat 35, 2000, Antwerpen, Belgium

    L. Egghe

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  1. L. Egghe
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Correspondence to L. Egghe.

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Egghe, L. The influence of random removal of sources and items on the h-index. Scientometrics 88, 363–370 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-011-0411-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-011-0411-0

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