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Impact of the number and rank of coauthors on h-index and π-index. The part-impact method

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  • Péter Vinkler

    (Research Centre for Natural Sciences)

Abstract

The publication activity of 20 Price-medallists was analysed by calculating several scientometric indices from data of elite sets of their publications. The following elite sets (i.e. most cited papers within the total) were obtained: π-set (where the number of papers is equal to √P, and P is the number of total papers), h-set (in which the number of papers equals to the Hirsch index), 2π-set, 2h-set, and the set of papers (ECP) which are cited more frequently than the average. The percentage share of papers and citations was found to increase in the mentioned rank of the elite sets, except ECP-set. The number of publications and citations in the elite sets was calculated also by different part-impact methods for sharing credit among the coauthors. The applied methods take into account the number or number and rank of coauthors in the by-line of the papers. It was demostrated that any of the methods changes both π and h-index significantly related to the value calculated by attributing total credit to the evaluated individual. The changes strongly depend on the number of coauthors and rank of the studied author in the by-line of the papers. Consequently, in assessing personal contribution of scientists by scientometric indices, sharing credit of publications and citations among the coauthors of publications seems to be highly relevant. Selecting the appropriate impact sharing method depends on the purpose of the evaluation.

Suggested Citation

  • Péter Vinkler, 2023. "Impact of the number and rank of coauthors on h-index and π-index. The part-impact method," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 128(4), pages 2349-2369, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:128:y:2023:i:4:d:10.1007_s11192-023-04643-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-023-04643-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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