In the scientific environment, objective expertise of scientists' activities plays a key role in making important decisions. One of the most popular metrics used to analyse the achievements of scientists is the Hirsch index. Due to its simplicity, objectivity, and comprehensive approach to evaluation, this indicator has become one of the key criteria for assessing the professional activity of researchers. Today, we will review what the Hirsch index is and what role it plays in building a successful research career.
What is the Hirsch index?
The Hirsch index (or h-index) – is an indicator used to assess the scientific productivity of researchers. This metric was proposed by physicist Jorge Hirsch back in 2005, and since then, the scientific community has been actively using it to objectively assess the activities of scientists.
The Hirsch index is distinguished by its comprehensive approach to evaluation. It takes into account both the number of publications and the level of their citation. Accordingly, the higher the h-index, the greater the influence of the scientist in their field. This helps to avoid the distortion of assessments that can occur when using only one of these indicators, creating a complete and objective picture of the researcher's contribution to science.
How to calculate the Hirsch index?
Calculating the h-index does not require a large amount of information. All that is needed is data on the number of scientific papers of a particular scientist and the number of citations in other publications.
Step-by-step calculation:
- Compilation of the list of publications: set the total number of scientific publications.
- Determining the number of citations: for each publication in the list, find the exact number of citations in the works of other scientists. This can be done using scientometric databases (Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, etc.).
- Sorting publications: place scientific works in descending order of citations (the publication with the highest number of citations is in the first place, and the lowest - in the last).
- Numbering of publications: number the sorted articles.
- Determine the h-index: start with the publication that has the most citations in other papers and move down the list. The search stops at the article whose number matches the number of citations.
To better understand how the calculation works, let's look at an example.
A researcher has 9 publications. Determine the number of citations and sort them. As a result, we get the following table:
|
Number |
Publication |
Number of citations |
|
1 |
А |
25 |
|
2 |
B |
21 |
|
3 |
C |
18 |
|
4 |
D |
15 |
|
5 |
E |
12 |
|
6 |
F |
8 |
|
7 |
G |
5 |
|
8 |
H |
2 |
|
9 |
I |
1 |
As we can see, in this case, the Hirsch index is 6 (since the 6th scientific article has 8 citations, and 8>6). Accordingly, this scientist has 6 articles, each of which has been cited at least 6 times.
Advantages of the Hirsch index
This indicator is widely used in the scientific community due to a number of advantages that make it an effective tool for evaluating researchers' activities.
1. Easy to calculate
The calculation of the Hirsch index does not require significant resources (such as time, data, and technical knowledge). This aspect makes it accessible to a wide range of users.
2. Reduced subjectivity and resistance to manipulation
Since the indicator is based on mathematical calculations, it eliminates the influence of subjective factors that can distort the results of the assessment. In addition, since the h-index requires only specific data (the number of articles and their citations), it is virtually impossible to falsify it.
3. Comprehensive assessment
The Hirsch index provides a comprehensive assessment of a researcher's activities, combining quantitative and qualitative analysis. Unlike indicators that focus on individual publications, the h-index provides a more complete picture of the researcher's contribution.
4. Career development
The h-index can have a significant impact on a researcher's career, opening up new opportunities for them, such as receiving grants, participating in international conferences, collaborating with other scientists, or professional advancement. In particular, when considering applications for academic positions or senior research positions, this indicator serves as an objective criterion of a candidate's scientific productivity and influence in the academic community.
In addition, prestigious scientific journals are more likely to invite researchers with a high h-index to be reviewers or members of editorial boards, which further enhances their professional status and expands their network of scientific contacts.
The Hirsch Index is a universal tool for assessing scientific activity that has a comprehensive approach to analysis. Taking into account the number of publications and their impact helps to objectively analyse the researcher's activities, which in turn affects their career development. Due to this comprehensiveness, the h-index opens up new opportunities for scientists in the professional field.
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