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Productivity does not equal usefulness

Author

Listed:
  • Lutz Bornmann

    (Administrative Headquarters of the Max Planck Society)

  • Alexander Tekles

    (Administrative Headquarters of the Max Planck Society
    Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich)

Abstract

For a recent commentary in Nature, Ioannidis et al. (Nature 561(7722):167–169, 2018) searched the Scopus database and identified those “hyperprolific” authors who have published more than one paper every 5 days. The 265 authors who belong to this very productive class contribute disproportionately to the archive. We show the relationship between paper productivity (annual number of papers) and usefulness of research (annual number of papers which belong to the 1% most frequently cited in the corresponding subject categories and publication years) for 160,108 researchers. Based on our results, we suggest that the identification of “hyperprolific” authors should consider not only quantity, but also the usefulness of research activities (measured in terms of citations).

Suggested Citation

  • Lutz Bornmann & Alexander Tekles, 2019. "Productivity does not equal usefulness," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 118(2), pages 705-707, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:118:y:2019:i:2:d:10.1007_s11192-018-2982-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-018-2982-5
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Christina Guenther & Erik E. Lehmann, 2022. "David B. Audretsch: Clarivate Citation Laureate 2021," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 58(1), pages 7-12, January.
    2. Zhiya Zuo & Kang Zhao, 2021. "Understanding and predicting future research impact at different career stages—A social network perspective," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 72(4), pages 454-472, April.

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