Formulae for the h-index: A lack of robustness in Lotkaian informetrics?
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| Title: | Formulae for the h-index: A lack of robustness in Lotkaian informetrics? |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Burrell, Quentin L.1,2 quentinburrell@manx.net |
| Source: | Journal of the American Society for Information Science & Technology. Jul2013, Vol. 64 Issue 7, p1504-1514. 15p. 3 Charts, 9 Graphs. |
| Subjects: | Mathematics methodology, Authors, Citation analysis, Statistical models |
| Abstract: | In one of the first attempts at providing a mathematical framework for the Hirsch index, Egghe and Rousseau (2006) assumed the standard Lotka model for an author's citation distribution to derive a delightfully simple closed formula for his/her h-index. More recently, the same authors ( Egghe & Rousseau, 2012b) have presented a new (implicit) formula based on the so-called shifted Lotka function to allow for the objection that the original model makes no allowance for papers receiving zero citations. Here it is shown, through a small empirical study, that the formulae actually give very similar results whether or not the uncited papers are included. However, and more important, it is found that they both seriously underestimate the true h-index, and we suggest that the reason for this is that this is a context-the citation distribution of an author-in which straightforward Lotkaian informetrics is inappropriate. Indeed, the analysis suggests that even if we restrict attention to the upper tail of the citation distribution, a simple Lotka/ Pareto-like model can give misleading results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Journal of the American Society for Information Science & Technology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
| FullText | Links: – Type: pdflink Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 87947621 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Formulae for the h-index: A lack of robustness in Lotkaian informetrics? – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Burrell%2C+Quentin+L%2E%22">Burrell, Quentin L.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo><i> quentinburrell@manx.net</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+the+American+Society+for+Information+Science+%26+Technology%22">Journal of the American Society for Information Science & Technology</searchLink>. Jul2013, Vol. 64 Issue 7, p1504-1514. 15p. 3 Charts, 9 Graphs. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mathematics+methodology%22">Mathematics methodology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Authors%22">Authors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Citation+analysis%22">Citation analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Statistical+models%22">Statistical models</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: In one of the first attempts at providing a mathematical framework for the Hirsch index, Egghe and Rousseau (2006) assumed the standard Lotka model for an author's citation distribution to derive a delightfully simple closed formula for his/her h-index. More recently, the same authors ( Egghe & Rousseau, 2012b) have presented a new (implicit) formula based on the so-called shifted Lotka function to allow for the objection that the original model makes no allowance for papers receiving zero citations. Here it is shown, through a small empirical study, that the formulae actually give very similar results whether or not the uncited papers are included. However, and more important, it is found that they both seriously underestimate the true h-index, and we suggest that the reason for this is that this is a context-the citation distribution of an author-in which straightforward Lotkaian informetrics is inappropriate. Indeed, the analysis suggests that even if we restrict attention to the upper tail of the citation distribution, a simple Lotka/ Pareto-like model can give misleading results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of the American Society for Information Science & Technology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1002/asi.22845 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 15 StartPage: 1504 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Mathematics methodology Type: general – SubjectFull: Authors Type: general – SubjectFull: Citation analysis Type: general – SubjectFull: Statistical models Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Formulae for the h-index: A lack of robustness in Lotkaian informetrics? Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Burrell, Quentin L. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 07 Text: Jul2013 Type: published Y: 2013 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 15322882 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 64 – Type: issue Value: 7 Titles: – TitleFull: Journal of the American Society for Information Science & Technology Type: main |
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