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Proposals for evaluating the regularity of a scientist’s research output

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  • Fiorenzo Franceschini

    (Politecnico Di Torino)

  • Domenico Maisano

    (Politecnico Di Torino)

Abstract

Evaluating the career of individual scientists according to their scientific output is a common bibliometric problem. Two aspects are classically taken into account: overall productivity and overall diffusion/impact, which can be measured by a plethora of indicators that consider publications and/or citations separately or synthesise these two quantities into a single number (e.g. h-index). A secondary aspect, which is sometimes mentioned in the rules of competitive examinations for research position/promotion, is time regularity of one researcher’s scientific output. Despite the fact that it is sometimes invoked, a clear definition of regularity is still lacking. We define it as the ability of generating an active and stable research output over time, in terms of both publications/quantity and citations/diffusion. The goal of this paper is introducing three analysis tools to perform qualitative/quantitative evaluations on the regularity of one scientist’s output in a simple and organic way. These tools are respectively (1) the PY/CY diagram, (2) the publication/citation Ferrers diagram and (3) a simplified procedure for comparing the research output of several scientists according to their publication and citation temporal distributions (Borda’s ranking). Description of these tools is supported by several examples.

Suggested Citation

  • Fiorenzo Franceschini & Domenico Maisano, 2011. "Proposals for evaluating the regularity of a scientist’s research output," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 88(1), pages 279-295, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:88:y:2011:i:1:d:10.1007_s11192-011-0371-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-011-0371-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gangan Prathap, 2011. "Letter to the Editor: Comments on the paper of Franceschini and Maisano: Proposals for evaluating the regularity of a scientist’s research output," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 88(3), pages 1005-1010, September.
    2. Eduardo Araujo Oliveira & Roberto Peicots-Filho & Daniella Reis Martelli & Isabel Gomes Quirino & Maria Christina Lopes Oliveira & Mariana Guerra Duarte & Sergio Veloso Pinheiro & Enrico Antonio Colos, 2013. "Is there a correlation between journal impact factor and researchers’ performance? A study comprising the fields of clinical nephrology and neurosciences," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 97(2), pages 149-160, November.
    3. Eduardo A. Oliveira & Enrico A. Colosimo & Daniella R. Martelli & Isabel G. Quirino & Maria Christina L. Oliveira & Leonardo S. Lima & Ana Cristina Simões e Silva & Hercílio Martelli-Júnior, 2012. "Comparison of Brazilian researchers in clinical medicine: are criteria for ranking well-adjusted?," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 90(2), pages 429-443, February.

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