Properties of Hirsch-type indices: the case of library classification categories

Abstract

We present an application of the h-index in a context which does not include publications or citations. Rankings of library classification categories using the h-, g-and R-index are shown to be statistically equivalent. Moreover these indices seem to have the same discriminating power, as measured by the Gini concentration index. We further present best fitting Zipf-Mandelbrot functions for the h-distributions of classifications in different libraries.

Going much beyond the Durfee square: enhancing the h T index

“…The h m index is very simple to compute from already available bibliometric indicators and should be more versatile than the h or h T indices in that it gives the best balance between quantity and quality; indeed perhaps better than all the other variants proposed so far (Liu and Rousseau 2009). …”

“…Many examples of a theoretical and empirical nature showed that while h alone permits no discrimination for many cases, h m allows ranking to be done on a more rational basis. The many advantages and disadvantages of the h-index and its many variants have been neatly catalogued recently (Liu and Rousseau 2009). Here, we identify a few where h m is seen to have an edge over h. Increasing the number of publications alone does not have an effect on h but we see from the nature of the composite indicator that h m is immediately altered.…”

Is there a place for a mock h-index?

“…The many advantages and disadvantages of the h-index and its many variants have been neatly catalogued recently (Liu and Rousseau 2009). Here, we identify a few where h m is seen to have an edge over h. Increasing the number of publications alone does not have an effect on h but we see from the nature of the composite indicator that h m is immediately altered.…”

“…Although the h-index was introduced in a publication-citation context, it can easily be applied to other source-item relations, as was done for library classification (Liu and Rousseau 2009). An obvious application is its application to sports.…”

The 100 most prolific economists using the p-index

“…Along with acceptance, its shortcomings have also been discussed and this has led to an alphabet soup of new variants which have tried to improve on the original (Liu and Rousseau 2009). However, what has been established so far, in a self-fulfilling prophetic way, is that all these new variations correlate well with the h-index.…”