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Mathematical aspects of a new criterion for ranking scientific institutions based on the h-index

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Abstract

We develop and discuss the theoretical basis of a new criterion for ranking scientific institutions. Our novel index, which is related to the h-index, provides a metric which removes the size dependence. We discuss its mathematical properties such as merging rules of two sets of papers and analyze the relations between the underlying rank/citation-frequency law and the h-index. The proposed index should be seen as a complement to the h-index, to compare the scientific production of institutions (universities, laboratories or journals) that could be of disparate sizes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Physics and Mechanics of Materials, Université Paul Verlaine, Metz, France

    Alain Molinari

  2. Laboratory of Mechanics and Technology, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Cachan, Université Paris 6, 61, avenue du Président Wilson, 94235, Cachan cedex, France

    Jean-Francois Molinari

Authors
  1. Alain Molinari
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  2. Jean-Francois Molinari
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Correspondence to Jean-Francois Molinari.

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Molinari, A., Molinari, JF. Mathematical aspects of a new criterion for ranking scientific institutions based on the h-index. Scientometrics 75, 339–356 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-007-1872-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-007-1872-z

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